Palestinian Women's Day: A Call for Protection and Justice
On the eve of Palestinian National Women's Day, Palestinian Minister of Women's Affairs Mona Al-Khalili made an urgent appeal at the United Nations headquarters in New York. She called on the international community to take immediate action to stop what she termed a "war of extermination" against Palestinians, particularly women and children in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This appeal coincides with the 24th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the importance of women's involvement in peace and security processes.
Al-Khalili's statement highlighted the dire circumstances faced by women in the region, including systematic killings, arrests, and exposure to severe forms of violence. She urged for the protection of women's rights and called for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, emphasizing the need for self-determination and justice for her people.
The minister's remarks come amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 143,000 Palestinians have been reported dead or wounded since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023. The situation has been described as one of the worst humanitarian disasters globally, with significant impacts on women, children, and vulnerable populations. Al-Khalili specifically called for the release of female detainees and an end to settler violence, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention to halt the ongoing aggression.
