In a searing condemnation of the ongoing violence in Gaza, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, the Ambassador of the Embassy of the State of Palestine, has laid bare the tragic realities faced by Palestinians. In a statement released on October 3, 2024, Abu Shawesh described the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, particularly emphasizing the impact on children who have been robbed of their innocence and basic human rights.
For over a year, Gaza has been subjected to relentless bombardment, leaving at least 41,615 dead and 96,359 injured, with the majority being women and children. Palestinian families have been decimated, and the trauma of war has etched itself into the lives of survivors, who face daily struggles for survival. Ambassador Abu Shawesh poignantly spoke about the lost tradition of storytelling, symbolizing how Palestinian children have been deprived of a normal childhood due to the constant threat of war and the destruction of their homes.
The Ambassador also condemned the role of the United States in funding and arming Israel, turning a blind eye to the atrocities being committed. Despite international pressure, including an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice and a recent UN General Assembly resolution, the U.S. continues to provide Israel with military aid, most recently securing an $8.7 billion package. This unyielding support has enabled what Abu Shawesh called a “man-made crisis,” where starvation, the destruction of farmlands, and the weaponization of water have further exacerbated the suffering of Palestinians.
Highlighting the irony of Israel declaring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as PERSONA NON GRATA after being included on the UN's "list of shame" for grave violations against children, Abu Shawesh criticized Israel's continued disregard for international law. His statement was a call to the global community to recognize the complicity of the U.S. in the ongoing war against Palestinians and to take meaningful action to end the suffering.
Below is the full statement from Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh.
---
**Full Statement**
"October 3, 2024
Bedtime stories have long been absent from the lives of Palestinian children. There are no beds for stories in plastic tents where children are forced to sleep on the ground. There is no time for stories when these children are gasping for breath, constantly searching for safety. The roar of American warplanes drowns out the voices of grandmothers who once told tales at night.
By the time the warplanes leave Gaza’s skies, the grandmothers may be gone, and their grandchildren might never know the stories meant for them. Yet, the countless taboos and hardships have not broken our spirits or our yearning for freedom. Nor have they extinguished our love for storytelling.
We will continue to remember our bedtime tales and pass them to the next generation. Through love, we will live, smile, and dream. We are the Phoenix.
363 days of relentless, barbaric, and vicious bombardment with different types of American weapons left behind no less than 41,615 martyrs and 96,359 injured, the vast majority of whom were women and children. 902 families were completely erased from the Palestinian civil registry.
Citing the Human Rights Watch, 'as of September 16, 38 Palestinians, the majority being children, have died of malnutrition and dehydration in hospitals.’ The World Health Organization estimates that more than 22,500 people injured as of July 23, 2024, have sustained 'life-changing injuries.' UNICEF reported that thousands of children have lost one or two limbs within the first three months of the hostilities.
In Gaza, over 1 million people did not receive food rations in August. In September, the number climbed to more than 1.4 million. Meanwhile, over 100,000 metric tons of food supplies are stranded outside Gaza due to access restrictions, insecurity, damaged roads, and the breakdown of law and order. Again and again, hunger is spreading in Gaza. It is entirely man-made. Nearly 70 percent of crop fields have been destroyed. An entire population is forced to exclusively rely on humanitarian aid.
Ironically, Israel, the pariah state that was included on the United Nations' 'list of shame' for countries committing 'grave violations' against children, the state that uses starvation as a method of war and weaponized water crises among other long list of war crimes, has declared the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres PERSONA NON GRATA and banned him from entering Israel. This may be the worst rude farce and dark comedy in political history.
In this connection, while all the Security Council members show strong support and full confidence for the Secretary-General, only the USA representative sits in silence like a grave. Despite the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice calling for an end to the transfer of arms, ammunition, and related equipment to Israel, and the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on September 13 that affirmed this demand, Israel said on Thursday, September 26, that it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and maintain a military edge in the region.
That being said, is there any doubt that this is a USA war against the Palestinian people?
Thank you, Gaza, for revealing their true colors."
— Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh
Ambassador of the Embassy of the State of Palestine
Tags
News