She added in a statement, on the occasion of resuming the new school year for Palestinian students, that 2,200,000 children are returning to their schools in Palestine and they have the right to feel safe.

The coordinator emphasized that children should be given special protection under international human rights law in view of their special conditions.

Hastings stated that since the beginning of 2021, a total of 79 Palestinian children have been killed and 1,269 others injured by the zionist occupation forces (ZOF).

She pointed out that 67 children were killed in the Gaza Strip during the latest Israeli aggression and another child was killed in June as a result of the explosive remnants of the Israeli attack. 

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the ZOF killed 11 children, injured 584 while the Jewish settlers wounded 24 kids, Hastings underlined. 

She pointed out that since June 2021, 225 Palestinian children were detained in israeli detention centers. She held the zionist regime responsible for protecting children and teachers from attacks perpetrated by settlers on their way to and from school. (ILKHA)