The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) strongly condemns the killing of three Palestinian children by an Israeli helicopter missile attack in the Jabaliya Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip on June 20. The three children, Mohammed Rouqa 5, Saniyeh Sharif 6, and Bilal Al Hassi 16 were killed when missiles were shot at what Israel claims was a car carrying activists from Fateh’s Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. The intended targets escaped with light injuries.

In the attack, 14 other bystanders, including four children, were wounded. This assault puts the number of Palestinians killed this month in Israeli attacks at 20.

MIFTAH demands that all Palestinian civilians and especially children must be protected in accordance with international law and charters. It is grossly insufficient for the international community to accept Israel’s “regret” for civilian casualties in their ongoing attacks against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and has an obligation to hold Israel responsible for these unnecessary deaths.

Like all children throughout the world, Palestinian children have the right to a life of dignity and safety and should be safeguarded from military attacks and injury by the occupying power.

MIFTAH calls on all international human rights organizations, the United Nations and the Quartet Committee to hold Israel accountable for the deaths of these children and all other innocent civilians categorized by the Israeli government as “collateral damage.” Israel should be made to bear its responsibilities as an occupying power and should be held accountable in the international arena. It should not be allowed to take away innocent lives with impunity.