The International Conference “Women and Holy Quds” was held on the Tuesday evening, May 16, 2022, on the eve of World Quds Day, in the conference hall of the Palestine Intifada Conference.
Referring to the occupation of Palestine, Fateneh Salem, a Palestinian woman, said at the conference, “Palestine has been occupied for more than seven decades, which has created many challenges for Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza. The occupation has had a dangerous impact on the progress of Palestine, and has deprived Palestinian families of their rights, and has caused these families to experience an instable life.”
“One of the most important challenges for the resilient Palestinian families is the siege in which the Zionists doesn’t allow the Palestinian families to travel, and communicate with other countries, and even other Palestinian areas. The occupation has halted the progress of the Palestinian education system, especially in the universities, and has deprived many Palestinian students from completing their education at Palestinian universities. The travel ban between Gaza and the West Bank has barred many students from studying at Palestinian universities and abroad,” she continued.
“The Israeli army’s numerous attacks on Palestinian schools and students during the wars, as well as the establishment of checkpoints, have created instability among students, especially in elementary school. Harassment of students and parents is one of the most important challenges for Palestinian families. The Zionist regime interferes in the Palestinian curriculum and deprives Palestinian students of access to many important educational issues, including the history of their country,” the Palestinian lady added.
Referring to the siege of Palestine, Fateneh Salem said, “The siege of Gaza and the West Bank by the Zionist regime has caused a crisis in the Palestinian medical system. The occupying regime prevents the importation of many medical equipment to treat Palestinian patients, especially the terminally ill. Delays in the arrival of patients to medical centers due to the Zionist checkpoint have led to the death of many Palestinian patients. Also, the lack of medicine and its high cost due to the occupation increase the death rate of Palestinian patients.”
“The siege of the Palestinian territories by the Zionists has made it impossible for the Palestinian people in Gaza, Al-Quds and the West Bank to communicate with each other, and relatives may not be able to see each other for many years. In recent years, the Zionist regime has pursued a policy of deporting resistance fighters and freed prisoners from the West Bank to Gaza,” she continued.
“The siege and occupation have raised the unemployment rate in Palestine, which has had social consequences for Palestinian families. Gaza is a small region with a high population density. 2.3 million people live in Gaza in an area of about 360 km2, which has led to the housing crisis and rising land prices in Gaza. This is in addition to the unemployment crisis and the lack of job opportunities for young graduates, which has made it impossible for these young people to get married. As a result, tens of thousands of young Palestinians are migrating to Europe. In addition, we are witnessing an increase in divorce rates and family crises among Palestinian families because of the occupation,” the Palestinian lady said.
It worth mentioning that the International Conference “Women and the Holy Quds” is being held with the participation of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and other similar institutions. Guests from Iran other countries attended the conference.