Human Rights

August 1, 2014

Attack On A School In Gaza Leaves UN Official In Tears

The  recent video of United Nations official, Chris Gunnesssobbing on camera during an Al-Jazeera interview has further highlighted the humility and grief of the injustices being carried out against the Palestinians.

Although the video was never meant to be seen by anyone, the unexpected breakdown of the United Nations official sobbing over the situation in Gaza went viral shortly after being released. A number of media organisations have reported on the incident since then, further relaying the hardships of the Palestinian people and emphasising just how difficult it is for journalists and officials to visit the conflict area and bear witness to the death, destruction and suffering.

Gunness is a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and was due to be interviewed by Al-Jazeera Arabic on Wednesday (30th July 2014) about the shelling of a UN school in Gaza. Gaza’s Ministry of Health has estimated that the attack killed 17 people and left more than 150 injured. Despite the fact that Gunness had given numerous interviews on the incident, during this particular one it seemed that he could no longer hold his emotions in.

“It was a live interview, and I just about got through it, just about held it together,” Gunness, 54, told the Guardian. “But what really makes my heart burst is the suffering of children, and I was so moved by the appalling attack on the school in Jabaliya that I couldn’t control myself any longer.”

The video follows on from last week’s urgent call of action from Jon Snow who recently returned from Gaza and reported on the suffering children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu3lYK6OmMI#t=47

There was no stop to the brutalities of the attacks during Eid-ul-Fitr which is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims after the end of Ramadan. Meanwhile, many activists have been actively carrying on with pro-Palestinian protests and are adamant to strengthen the BDS movement (Boycott Divestment Sanctions), which for many seems like the only way to get through to Israel.

Today, a pro-Palestine banner created by the campaign group London Palestine Action was hung from Westminster Bridge in London. The message was clear “UK: Stop Arming Israel”. As the attacks on Palestinians worsen day by day, campaigners around the world carry on criticising governments which continue to fund Israeli army. The banner hung from Westminster Bridge was created with the hope that British politicians would be able to see it clearly from Parliament and be urged to take action.



About the Author

Nuzhat Fatima
Nuzhat is a 20-year old undergraduate student from England, currently studying Politics at Loughborough and is about to go on a year abroad to study in Germany. Disillusioned by the 'lad culture' which dominates her University, she decided to help launch the first ever Women's association to support campaigns which promote gender equality and women's liberation in all aspects of University life. Her interests have been inspired by the 'Black Women's Forum UK' and NUS black students conferences which sparked a passion for seeking liberation for the politically black. This is where the interest in women's rights and other forms of oppression combined to create enthusiasm for intersectionality. In her spare time Nuzhat enjoys poetry, art and music.




2 Comments


  1. Joshua

    Yes. But you don’t show the women,children and men and pets who face the non-stop barrages of thousands and thousands of rockets and who cannot sleep out of terror in Israel do you? Of course war is horrible and the innocents should not have to die, so direct your protest and anger at the party that causes the problem , not the one that tries to stop it. What possible justification does Hamas have to launch missile, to kidnap, to dig tunnels (hundreds of them!), use human shields and stand for the destruction of every Jew in the world (read the Hamas Charter). Yes I cry too. It’s madness.


  2. […] International Political Forum , UN Official in tears: […]



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