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The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the oPt said that schools should be safe havens for children to learn, develop and be protected. For his part, the coordinator of the peace process in the Middle East warns of the absence of a political solution horizon
According to what was stated in the United Nations news bulletin, of which we received a copy on Tuesday morning, Lynn Hastings said, in a statement issued yesterday, Monday, that the year 2023 is still very bad for children in the occupied Palestinian territory, at a time when more than 1.3 million Palestinian children return this week. and the following week to their schools in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
The UN official warned that these children lost weeks of education this year as a result of the long strikes waged by teachers in UNRWA schools and government schools in the West Bank, the escalation in the Gaza Strip in May and the operations launched by the forces. Israeli refugee camps in the West Bank.
She added that "the situation is getting worse," as 42 Palestinian children have been killed, including 35 in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and seven others in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of this year.
Obstacles and challenges
The UN Resident Coordinator noted that during the first six months of 2023, the UN documented more than 423 incidents affecting Palestinian children and their education, including shootings of schools and children by Israeli forces, school demolitions, settler harassment, delays at checkpoints, This affected about 50,000 children.
She said that the Israeli authorities had demolished three schools in the past 12 months, the last of which was in the village of Ein Samia on 17 August, a few days before the start of the new school year. In addition, orders were issued to demolish 58 other schools, in whole or in part, or decisions were issued against them to stop work in them.
She added that the actual obstacles placed by the Palestinians in the camps, some of which are rigged with explosives, threaten the safety of children and make it more difficult for them to reach their classrooms, noting that there are still reports of children being registered in "summer camps" run by armed groups, which increases the risk of their exposure. For violence or military content.
Hastings called on all actors to fulfill their obligations to protect children and prevent them from being exposed to violence in all its forms.
She also stressed the importance of doing more on the part of the international community to ensure the availability of sufficient resources for the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA, and to support the humanitarian response plan in order to provide regular, safe and high-quality education to all Palestinian children.
For his part, the United Nations Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said that the growing despair about the future fuels and exacerbates the violence that leads to the killing and injury of Palestinians and Israelis on an almost daily basis. He referred to today's shooting attack that killed an Israeli in the West Bank.
In his regular briefing, on Monday, to the UN Security Council, Tor Winsland said that the parties had taken some measures to enhance stability on the ground, but he referred to the continuation of unilateral steps, including settlement growth and demolitions, in addition to the Israeli operations in Area A, the activity of Palestinian militants and settler violence.
Wensland told the members of the Security Council that the absence of progress towards the horizon of a political solution, which addresses the core issues of the conflict, left a dangerous void that was filled by extremists on both sides.
In his statement, the UN Coordinator touched on the incidents that resulted in deaths and injuries on both sides, and reaffirmed the need to hold all perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice urgently.
He said that violence against civilians, including acts of terrorism, is unacceptable and must be condemned and rejected by all. He added that the security forces must exercise maximum restraint, and not use lethal force unless they are unable to avoid it to protect lives.
Settlement and demolition
Via video link from Jerusalem, Tor Wiensland addressed the Security Council on the continuation of settlement activities and emphasized that all settlements are illegal under international law and a major obstacle to achieving peace.
In his speech, he addressed the demolition works, and said that the Israeli authorities demolished, confiscated, or forced the owners to demolish 58 Palestinian facilities in Area C of the West Bank and 6 in East Jerusalem, which led to the displacement of 28 Palestinians, including 14 children.
He said that the demolitions are due to the lack of building permits issued by the Israeli authorities, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, as explained by the UN official.
Wensland referred to the demolition of a Palestinian primary school in Ein Samia, days before the start of the school year.
He called on the Israeli authorities to stop demolishing Palestinian property, displacing and evacuating Palestinians, and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs.

Difficult financial situation
The United Nations coordinator for the peace process in the Middle East said that the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority is still difficult, in light of expectations that the financial deficit will reach more than 370 million dollars during the current year. He added that the austerity measures led to a significant reduction in employee salaries and social assistance.
He touched on the lack of funding facing United Nations agencies, which undermines their ability to provide basic services to the Palestinians.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) urgently needs $75 million to be able to continue providing food aid to 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza until the end of the year. It also needs the World Food Program to $41 million to restore its operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The humanitarian appeal in support of the Palestinians, launched by the United Nations and its partners, has received only 30% of the total funding requested for the current year.
Wensland encouraged UN member states to contribute to the funding of UN agencies and relief partners so that they can continue to carry out their vital services on the ground.
Concluding his speech, Wensland said that more than 200 Palestinians and nearly 30 Israelis were killed in the West Bank and Israel this year, more than the number recorded in 2022, which was the highest since 2005.
While stressing the importance of focusing urgently on addressing pressing issues and calming the situation on the ground, Wensland stressed the need not to ignore the need to restore the political horizon.
He said that the United Nations remains committed to supporting the parties in ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements.