In the last two weeks we have seen the bombing of the biggest hospital Al Shi’fa in Gaza. The horrendous scenes of babies in the neonatal units being removed from incubators, left to die as a lack of electricity.

The destruction and absolute devastation in such a short space of time is humanly incomprehensible. 
Since the 7 of October to 23 November 19,835 innocent civilians have been killed. Of them 8005 ordinary children that laugh, play, cuddle and have dreams just like our children here, have been mercilessly slaughtered (Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor).

The number of schools gravely damaged in Gaza are the equivalent to more than half of all the secondary schools in the city of London. This equates to nothing more than the total destruction of a future generation.

Here in the UK, our education institutions still sit quiet. Not even a moments silence, or a prayer is openly acknowledged in our school assemblies.
Fund raising events like Children in Need took place but didn’t include the children of this human crisis.

The lack of compassion and empathy is indiscriminate. It’s led to student walk outs, like that seen in an East London school where 300 students boycotted by not attending or walking out from an assembly which was hosted by a Labour MP. These children wanted to show their solidarity with the innocent people of Palestine.

Our schools should be facilitating dialogue, safe spaces and some form of guidance that allows our children to discuss and express their emotions and thoughts. They should be safe sanctuaries where teachers and students can come together without FEAR seeking knowledge and the truth. Instead according to the Observer “some schools are blocking attempts to introduce the subject, in spite of active interest from pupils, due to the amount of ‘heat’ the topic draws and worries about ‘bad publicity’.” (The Guardian)

Our government is not doing enough or anything at all to address this. Our children are being subjugated to turning a blind eye or false narratives. As parents, guardians and members of society we have every duty to ensure our commitment to the welfare of all our children in all schools and educational institutions.

Furthermore, our own Secretary of Education, Gillian Keegan MP did not vote for a ceasefire on the 15th November parliament vote. The same woman who spoke saying “being in government is about looking at the evidence and acting in public interest-never more so than when it comes to the safety of children.”(The Sun)

In a couple of days this temporary pause is likely to end and the unthinkable barbaric attacks begin again on the innocent people of Palestine.

Your help has been crucial in moving this petition forward but it needs to grow bigger and louder.

Let us honour the lost lives of this tragedy and not let the thousands of innocent children’s sacrifices go in vain. 

Together we can push for this change in our schools and institutions. Please continue to sign and share.
Every signature makes a difference.