Israel has killed 18 Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since the beginning of 2018 according to the Defense for Children International.
The Organization said in a statement on Tuesday that 12 children have been killed by Israeli gunfire since the launch of the Great Return March in Gaza on 30th March including six killed on Monday half of whom died of live bullets to the head.
The Organization affirmed that the nature and places of injuries confirm that the Israeli occupation forces use lethal force against Palestinian civilians and children who pose no threat to the Israeli soldiers.
“Israel’s complete disregard for international norms requires that the international community take urgent action to hold accountable all perpetrators that are killing and maiming Palestinian children in direct contravention of international law” the statement underlined.
At least 62 Palestinians were killed and about 3188 injured in Gaza on Monday after the Israeli occupation forces targeted the civilians protesting peacefully in the eastern border areas with live ammunition rubber-coated metal bullets and teargas canisters.
Palestinians marched in Gaza on Monday mainly in protest at the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem in accordance with a decision issued by the US president Donald Trump on 6th December 2017.
Trump’s decision has stirred widespread Palestinian and international resentment. The Palestinian Authority for example decided to freeze its political relations with the US administration while the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution rejecting any attempt to alter the legal status of Occupied Jerusalem.
Washington had intentionally decided to open its embassy in Jerusalem on 14th May which marks the 70th anniversary of the Nakba when about 760000 Palestinians were expelled from their lands in 1948.
