TEHRAN – Iranian children’s theater activists have called for an end to the war and the killing of children in Gaza.

The secretariat of the 28th edition of Iran’s International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults and the Children and Youth Theater Association of the Iranian Theater Forum released a joint statement on Wednesday in support of the oppressed and displaced children of Gaza.

Parts of the statement reads, “Resolutions are not decisive; where only war balls are shot in the children's land of life. Treaties are broken; where instead of colorful balloons, missiles fly in the sky of children's life. Slogans remain inactive; where birthday candles are extinguished with collapsing roofs.

United Nations organizations are discredited; where time stops with the death of children and tomorrow never comes. We are the messengers of peace from Iranian children to the world, and they demand an end to the false display of human friendship by the powerful.

The time for the end of war, excessive greed, and child killing is now."

Since October 7, when Hamas unexpectedly started Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in the occupied territories in reaction to the Israeli regime’s increased atrocities against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Israel has been bombing Gaza.

It is reported that about 13,000 Palestinians, including 5,500 children, have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

UNICEF has recently announced that children and families in Gaza are caught in a catastrophic situation. 

Thousands of children have reportedly been killed and thousands more injured. Children and families in Gaza have been cut off from water, food, fuel, medicine, and other essentials, including safe access to hospitals, following escalating hostilities. 

UNICEF has also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for unrestricted humanitarian access to allow aid to reach children and families in need, save lives and prevent further suffering.  

The cost to children and their communities of the escalating violence will be borne out for generations to come. Children are dying at an alarming rate and being denied their basic rights. Civilians must be protected – children particularly – and all efforts must be made to spare them in all circumstances.
 
SAB/