As the international community reiterates its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under the principle that "no one will be left behind," Palestinians find themselves tragically excluded from this promise. Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh of the State of Palestine to Nigeria has conveyed an urgent message to the world, underscoring the profound suffering endured in Gaza and the West Bank due to ongoing violence and displacement.
Mass burial is becoming a common occurrence in Palestine In the past 398 days alone, relentless violence has claimed the lives of 43,391 Palestinians in Gaza, leaving 102,337 injured, the majority being women and children. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has also witnessed a devastating toll, with 777 Palestinians martyred over the last 13 months. Educational institutions have suffered severe impacts: 11,923 students have been killed, and another 19,199 injured. Across Gaza, 341 school and university buildings have been attacked, with 77 entirely destroyed, stripping thousands of students of their right to education and safety.
Decent burial in Palestine has eluded Palestine The military campaign against Gaza has been marked by unprecedented destruction. Israel has dropped 85,000 tons of bombs on the region—an arsenal exceeding that deployed in World War II—including the use of banned white phosphorus munitions. The U.S. military support for Israel has amounted to at least $22.76 billion over the past year alone, fueling this humanitarian catastrophe.
Humanitarian conditions in Gaza have deteriorated catastrophically, as reported by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Today, 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced, with millions forced into temporary shelters and denied access to basic necessities like food, water, and medicine. Food insecurity affects 96% of the population, leaving 2.15 million people in severe hunger. The availability of water has plummeted to just 4.74 liters per person per day—a fraction of the emergency standard, barely enough for minimal sanitation. As of May 2024, only four of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain intact, and over 880 healthcare workers have been killed.
sorrow, tears and blood before our very eyes. In a joint plea, leaders from 15 United Nations agencies urged Israel to halt its assault on Gaza and allow humanitarians access to help. Schools serving as shelters have been bombed, tents for displaced families shelled, and individuals burned alive within supposed safe spaces. UN personnel have been among the casualties: 197 UNRWA employees have lost their lives, and 190 UNRWA facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Tragically, even UNRWA-run schools meant to protect the displaced have been targeted, killing at least 520 individuals sheltering within these sites.
Since October 7, 2023, over 150,000 Palestinians have been killed, injured, maimed, or reported missing, with women and children suffering disproportionately. Entire families have been exterminated, generations lost, and young children left limbless before they could even walk. Israeli forces have leveled entire residential blocks, trapping hundreds of civilians inside.
Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh calls on the global community to live up to its pledges and the promise of “NEVER AGAIN,” urging immediate intervention to end the atrocities and to support Palestinians. He reminds the world that Palestinians, like all people, deserve peace, dignity, and the chance to build a future without fear and deprivation.
Full Statement by Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh
“We pledge that no one will be left behind.” The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Yet, we, the Palestinian people, were left behind. 398 days of nonstop suffering at the hands of the USA-Israeli war machinery have resulted in the following:
Casualties in Gaza: 43,391 Palestinians have been martyred, and 102,337 have been injured, with the majority being children and women.
Casualties in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem: 777 Palestinians were martyred over the last 13 months.
Impact on Education: 11,923 students were killed, and 19,199 injured in the past 13 months. Furthermore, 341 school and university buildings were targeted in military attacks, with 77 of them completely destroyed.
Scale of Bombing: Israel has dropped 85,000 tons of bombs on Gaza, surpassing the quantity dropped in World War II. Among the weapons used are internationally banned white phosphorus bombs.
U.S. Military Aid: In just one year, the United States has allocated at least $22.76 billion in military aid to Israel and associated operations in the region.
Humanitarian Crisis: According to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population is now displaced and living in temporary shelters, lacking cash to buy essentials like food, water, and medicine. 96% of Gaza’s population faces acute food insecurity, with 2.15 million people experiencing crisis levels of hunger. Water availability in Gaza has fallen by 94%, to just 4.74 liters per person per day—less than a third of the recommended emergency minimum and below the amount needed for a single toilet flush. As of May 2024, only 4 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remained undamaged, while over 880 healthcare workers were killed.
UN Statement: Leaders of 15 UN agencies jointly urged Israel to "cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help.” They highlighted that schools used as shelters were bombed or evacuated, tents sheltering displaced families were shelled, and people burned alive. "The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza faces imminent risk from disease, famine, and violence.”
UNRWA Casualties and Destruction: At least 197 UNRWA employees have been killed in Gaza, and nearly 190 UNRWA facilities damaged or destroyed. UNRWA-run schools were demolished, and at least 520 displaced individuals were killed while sheltering inside UNRWA schools and other structures.
Ongoing Atrocities: Since October 7, 2023, at least 150,000 Palestinians have been killed, injured, maimed, or are missing—most of them women and children. Entire families have been wiped out, generations erased, and infants left limbless before they could crawl. Israeli forces deployed multiple missiles to raze residential blocks, killing hundreds of civilians inside.
The Palestinian people are left questioning why the promise of "NEVER AGAIN" has not applied to them. The world must urgently intervene to end these atrocities. Palestinians have an inalienable right to live in peace, with dignity, and to hope for a future free from deprivation and relentless conflict.
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