On Wednesday, 21 July 2016, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan) issued a report on attacks against children in armed conflict and in internal incidents in the Gaza Strip during the first six months of 2016. The introduction illustrates the general situation of children in the Gaza Strip, the protection that the special status of children requires, and the role of Al Mezan in documenting and monitoring attacks against children as an NGO cooperating with the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on grave violations of children's rights. The report then presents a statistical brief and a final conclusion.

The report illustrates the historical development of the UN Security Council Resolution 1612 and the crucial violations encompassed therein. It gives a comprehensive overview of the violations that Al Mezan have monitored and documented during the reporting period. All cited violations of children’s rights are supported by eyewitness affidavit.

Violations against children are divided into three areas:

• -- Killing and maiming of children: the report indicates that four children were killed and 33 were injured as a result of incidents linked directly or indirectly to the conflict with Israeli occupation forces (IOF), such as unexploded ordnance blasts as well as fires resulting from the Israeli closure/blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
• -- Arrest and detention of children: the report demonstrates that during the reporting period 17 children were detained by the IOF within IOF limited incursions and within the harassment of fishermen, rubble collectors, and individuals who approach the separation fence for work or leisure.
• -- Attacks against schools and hospitals: the IOF continued its violations and attacks against educational institutions and facilities in the Gaza Strip either by shelling or live fire. During the reporting period, the IOF directly attacked a school and partially damaged it. Normal functioning of the school is suspended.  

The report concluded that the IOF continues its attacks against children including by killing, injuring, and detaining/arresting them. At the end of the report, Al Mezan reiterated its condemnation of Israel’s violations, perpetrated as the Occupying Power, against Palestinian children, and calls upon the international community to take meaningful action to bring to a swift end the violations cited and to bring perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law.