In August of last year, when my team spoke to the Abu Jazar family in the Gaza Strip, they didn’t know whether their son, Yousef, was dead or alive.
Yousef was seemingly shot and killed by Israeli forces in April 2018, when he was 15 years old, but Israeli authorities refused to return Yousef’s remains to his family. Israel is the only country in the world with such a policy to confiscate human remains, enshrined by an Israeli Supreme Court decision and an order from Naftali Bennett, then the Israeli Defense Minister and now the Prime Minister.
Three long years later, in April 2021, Israeli authorities finally released Yousef’s body to his family so he could be buried and mourned.
I share this story with you not only to emphasize the collective punishment that Israeli authorities unleash onto Palestinian families, but to shine a light on the importance of long-term, sustained advocacy by human rights organizations that never gave up on Yousef and his family.
Defense for Children International – Palestine is commemorating our 30th anniversary this year by reflecting on the many Palestinian children and families we’ve worked with over the years. This work takes years to see progress and we are committed to standing up for Palestinian children in the long run.
A lot has changed in the last 30 years but so much has remained the same for Palestinian children and families living under Israeli military occupation. Palestinian families should be celebrating their children’s birthdays and graduations, not mourning the killing of children like Yousef and fighting in the courts for the right to bury him.
It is a long journey toward peace and justice, and we are glad to have your solidarity along the way. Thank you for all you do to support Palestinian children.
