Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued targeting Palestinian children at schools and homes. According to the investigations of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights IOF escalated their attacks on schools and more children are hurt by IOF's arbitrary shelling of civilian areas.

Yesterday, 22 September 2004, an 11-year-old girl, Raghda Al Assar died from wounds she sustained on Tuesday 7 September, 2004, from a live bullet in the head when she was in her classroom in Khan Younis. She spent 16 days on life machines at the hospital. Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), who were positioned in the settlement of Gani Tal in Khan Younis, opened intensive fire on the area of the UNRWA 'A' School. Raghda was inside her classroom when she was injured. This incident comes in a context of violations of the rights of Palestinian children, who are particularly suffering from the atrocities of occupation.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is gravely concerned by this violation. This was not the first time Palestinian schoolchildren or teachers, are injured in IOF firing at their schools. Previously, on 1 June 2004, two boys, 15-year-old Mahmud Nathmi Hammad and 15-year-old Hisham Ismail Al Habeel, were injured inside their classrooms in an UNRWA school in Rafah as Israeli forces opened fire at the school. Numerous similar attacks were reported around the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT). It should be noted that schools are always clearly flagged and identifiable.

According to the documentation collected by of Mezan, thousands of children are suffering as a result of home demolition, land leveling and the excessive use of force by the IOF. The killing of Raghda raises the toll of killed Palestinian children, by IOF, to 424 in the Gaza Strip alone. Added to this are the restriction imposed on access to basic services, such as education and health. Contrary to its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Israel treats Palestinian children between 16 and 17 years old as adults. Hundreds are detained under the same condition as adults inside Israel. Moreover, IOF continues to attempts to recruit Palestinian minors to work as collaborators and informants.

Al Mezan gravely condemns Israel's violations of Palestinian children rights. The Center calls upon the international community to take effective steps towards ensuring protection for Palestinian minors. The Center believes it is essential that the Office of the United Nations Secretary General includes a separate section on Israel's violations in his report to the United Nations Security Council, especially under the increasing violations from the part of the IOF. Israel must uphold its obligations under International Humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children must be equally treated everywhere.