Geneva: Navi Pillay, Chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stated on Tuesday that the Israeli government's prolonged and most violent assault on the Palestinian people appears aimed at destroying Palestinian identity.
According to Jordan News Agency, Pillay presented the commission's latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, highlighting Israel's widespread destruction in Gaza. This includes the dismantling of education and health systems, the demolition of homes and infrastructure, and the targeting of heritage sites. These actions are viewed as attempts to sever Palestinians from their historical ties to the land and undermine their collective identity, thereby obstructing their right to self-determination.
Pillay emphasized that the Israeli security forces have not only killed thousands of children but have also caused significant damage to Gaza's education system. She noted that more than 90 percent of schools and university buildings have been damaged or destroyed, creating conditions that make education impossible.
She further stressed that the "systematic targeting" of educational institutions extends beyond Gaza and affects all Palestinian children in the occupied territories. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, school closures, demolition orders, movement restrictions, raids, and large-scale military operations have resulted in a significant loss of learning days.