Statement by H.E. Ms. Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir,
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
"Call to Action for Palestinian Children in the West Bank and Gaza"
High-level event during the High-level week of the 80th Session of the General Assembly
24 September, 2025



Excellencies, dear hosts, and colleagues,

Thank you for acting on this important initiative and for gathering us for this Call to Action for Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza. 

No child should endure the inhumane treatment and harmful conditions Palestinian children have suffered over the past two years. Their physical and psychological well-being continues to be violated at an unacceptable scale.

Palestinian children have the right to be protected under international humanitarian law and human rights law. When these obligations are breached, it is our collective duty, especially as State Parties to the Geneva Conventions and Convention of the Rights of the Child, to demand accountability and respect for the law. 

An immediate and unconditional ceasefire is essential, as is safe, unhindered, and uninterrupted humanitarian access throughout Gaza. 

Grave violations against children must stop and those responsible must be held accountable. 

More focus needs to be given to the plight of detained children and they, as well as the hostages, must be released. 

Israel, like all parties, must uphold the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Here, I want to highlight especially the right to education. In Gaza, the third school year in a row is getting lost. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, education has been disrupted and schools issued with closure orders by Israeli authorities.

Looking ahead, any reconstruction plan for Gaza must guarantee education for its 660,000 school-age children. UNRWA remains the only actor with the capacity to deliver this at scale and must be allowed to carry out its mandate. 

Finally, I would like to remind us to apply a gender perspective, addressing the distinct needs of all in our actions. 

Thank you