Palestine’s Struggle: A History of Oppression, Genocide, and Denied Rights
Since the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which opened the door to Jewish immigration and subjected Palestine to Israeli occupation and acts of vandalism, the region has been enduring one of the most severe genocides and apartheid practices in modern history, particularly since October 7th. Nearly 25,000 people, half of whom are children, have been martyred, while around 60,000 have been injured. More than 50,000 buildings and over 250,000 homes have been destroyed, and 2 million people have been displaced. Gaza has become a stark symbol of the human condition for the entire world. Unfortunately, due to the lack of response beyond condemnation, particularly from Islamic countries, the occupiers have become emboldened, worsening the situation in Gaza.
We have witnessed the repeated disregard for all the fundamental texts that the world considers to be core values and the foundational philosophy of the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention, the Rome Statute referring to Crimes Against Humanity, the Geneva Conventions, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child have all been rendered meaningless, reduced to mere words on paper during this ongoing crisis.
As a result, today, while Gaza is being completely flattened, at least 1% of its population is no longer alive, and half of them are children. It can be said that there is not a single child in Gaza who does not need psychological support, and we can even extend this to the adults. All the rights promised to children under the Convention on the Rights of the Child are being trampled under the boots of the occupiers. In fact, genocidal actions are being carried out even against unborn children in the embryonic stage!
For 17 years, Gaza has been under siege by Israel, from air, land, and sea. Can we, as the global community, create a corridor for Gaza’s children to breathe? This is the question the 8-billion-strong world must answer.
As the Orphan Foundation, our work in the region continues based on urgent humanitarian aid and advocacy for rights. Since 2021, we have been supporting 1,985 orphans in Gaza through a sponsorship system. Additionally, we are supporting over 300 orphans in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Throughout the year, we carry out projects at least four times, during Ramadan, Eid al-Adha, the school term, and winter aid. After October 7th, we have had the opportunity to reach over 125,000 of our brothers and sisters. In our aid efforts, we have specifically prioritized families with orphaned and disadvantaged children. The value of our humanitarian efforts, as of December 25th, amounts to $531,000, which includes cash distributions, food aid, milk powder, hot meals, hygiene kits, baby diapers, blanket distributions, drinking water deliveries to residential areas, and fuel support for hospitals.
In terms of advocacy, on December 10th, World Human Rights Day, we reached out to the UN Human Rights Committee’s "Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances" to investigate the fate of the 1,985 orphans under our care, who we have not heard from since October 7th.
We pray for the day when the rights and freedoms of all children across the world, including those in Palestine, East Turkestan, Arakan, Afghanistan, and Syria, will be protected, and when they will be able to live in peace and security with their families.
| Project Type | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|
| 1. Cash Assistance Support Project (USD 250 per family) (North Gaza) | 400 Families |
| 2. Food Distribution Project (North Gaza) | 1,000 Families |
| 3. Diaper and Milk Powder Distribution Project (North Gaza) | 600 Children |
| 4. Blanket Distribution Project (North Gaza) | 600 Families |
| 5. Drinking Water Distribution Project (34 tankers, 8,000 liters per tanker) (North Gaza) | 10,880 Families |
| 6. 1. Hot Meal Distribution Project (North and South Gaza) | 2,000 People |
| 7. Hygiene Kit Distribution Project (North Gaza) | 500 Families |
| 8. Food Distribution Project (South Gaza) | 2,004 Families |
| 9. Fuel Distribution for Hospitals Project (10,000 liters) (North Gaza) | 5,000 People |
| 10. 2. Hot Meal Distribution Project (South Gaza) | 6,000 People |
| 11. 2. Fuel Distribution for Hospitals Project (16,000 liters) | 8,000 People |
| 12. 3. Hot Meal Distribution Project | 10,000 People |
| 13. Blanket Distribution Project | 900 Families |
| 14. Bread Distribution Project | 2,625 People |
| 15. Tarpaulin Distribution Project | 300 Families |
| 16. 4. Hot Meal Distribution Project | 8,000 People |
| Total Families | 16,584 Families |
| Total People | 122,145 People |