Two tragedies, divided grief: Mourning Minneapolis, ignoring Gaza

Condemnations poured in following Wednesday's shooting in Minneapolis, USA. Two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed when a 22-year-old individual opened fire through the windows of a church located on the grounds of the Annunciation Catholic School.

- By Ameen Izzadeen

Gun violence remains a perennial problem in the United States, and no administration has yet succeeded in addressing it owing in part to constitutional protections under the Second Amendment and the formidable influence of the gun lobby.

In condemning the incident, former US President Joe Biden said, “No parent should ever have to bury their child. Jill and I are heartbroken, and there are simply no words to adequately mark such a horrific and painful moment. With all our hearts, we are praying for the victims, their families, and the community of Minneapolis.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church. These are kids that should be learning with their friends; they should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence, and their parents should have the same kind of assurance. This kind of act of evil should never happen, and it happens far too often.”

We couldn't agree more. Children have an inherent right to life, as affirmed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. States that are signatories to the convention must make every effort to ensure the survival of every child. Except for the United States, all UN member states have ratified the treaty. Hailed as history's most widely ratified human rights instrument, the convention calls upon states to uphold the rights of every child regardless of who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what religion they follow, what they believe, how they look, whether they are a boy or girl, have a disability, are rich or poor, or whatever their parents or families may believe or do. In other words, whether they live in the US or the Gaza Strip.

The convention insists that children must be protected in armed conflicts and that no child should be detained, tortured, or subjected to cruel treatment.