The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa (CAMEA) at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) Thursday organized an art competition for children aged 8-12 years, titled, “Expressing Solidarity with the Children of Gaza,” aimed to pay homage to the courage and resilience of the people of Gaza, particularly its children, who have borne the brunt of the conflict .
The Chief Guest on the occasion was Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Ahmed Rabaei, Counsellor at the South African High Commission, Brian Witbooi; Director General ISSI, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, and Director CAMEA, ISSI Amina Khan also addressed the event, a news release said.
In his remarks, the ambassador expressed his deep gratitude on behalf of the State of Palestine to the people of Pakistan for their profound support and solidarity in such testing times. He expressed pleasure on seeing the participating students, who shared their heartfelt sentiments and contributed efforts in support of the Palestinian people in the wake of ongoing conflict.
He reiterated the concerns of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, ‘who feared that there may be no life in Gaza’.
He added that seventy percent of the victims in Gaza were children and women, which meant more than 21,000 human lives.
Further, he said, more than 20,000 buildings in Gaza had been demolished by Israel’s occupation forces. People in the south of Gaza – more than 1.4 million – were waiting in the small congested area for hope. However, Israel was attacking Gaza continuously.
Speaking about Pakistan, Ambassador Rabaei stated that he felt at home, as the people in Pakistan spoke about Palestine through their hearts which showed that Palestinians were not alone in facing the challenges while they pursued their struggle for inalienable rights.
DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his remarks on the occasion, highlighted the human suffering in Gaza as a result of relentless Israeli military operations, and especially the devastating impact on Gaza’s children. He noted that over 12,600 children had been killed, while those who survived were psychologically traumatized, displaced, homeless, and short of food and safe drinking water.
Thousands had lost body limbs and would be forced to live the lives of disability and dependence.
