We would like to think that Jameel Peerally’s intention of having 100 Palestinian children adopted by Mauritian families emanates from good feelings and is the result of being moved by the atrocities perpetrated against Palestinian civilians. The pictures of children being dug out of ruins only to find out that their parents were even more unlucky could not have left anyone insensitive.

It is a sorry example of how injustice and apathy can unwittingly conspire against a whole nation, denying a whole people their basic socio-economic rights. So, we are prepared to put aside the fact that Peerally’s interest in the Palestinian question is very recent and comes at a time when public opinion is at last waking up to denounce the carnage in Gaza.

Still, any move which contributes in any way to alleviating the suffering of Palestinians should be applauded. The naiveté behind the move is, however, disconcerting. It almost looks as if Peerally is thinking of going on a plane to Gaza, in the midst of the cheers of well-wishers, and coming back – with a trolley full of orphaned children – to be greeted as a hero with cameras, photographers and microphones.

Children are not toys to be picked up off supermarket shelves and we are not celebrities seeking the limelight by parading orphaned children as part of our families. Adoption is regulated by laws and intercountry adoptions have to respect international conventions to safeguard the interests of the child. Any action taken out of ignorance may blow up in our faces.

The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption states that “a child should be raised by his/her birth family or extended family whenever possible” and that “if that is not possible or practicable, other forms of permanent care in the state of origin should be considered”. Only after “due consideration has been given to national solutions should intercountry adoption be considered, and then only if it is in the child’s best interests”.

The Geneva Conventions of 1949 Article 78 of Protocol I prescribes that “no party to a conflict shall arrange for evacuation of children, other than its own nationals, to a foreign country except for a temporary evacuation and that too for compelling reasons...” But even in these cases, “the written consent of parents or legal guardians would be needed”.

If these persons cannot be found, the written consent of persons who, “by law or custom, are primarily responsible for the care of the children, will be needed”. Mr. Peerally might perhaps benefit by learning that the West Bank and Gaza are not a sovereign state. They can therefore not be a party to the Hague Convention.

So, in the current mayhem where agencies, infrastructure and all facilities have been virtually annihilated, it is impossible to carry out any checks or have any adoption agreements signed. More importantly perhaps is the fact that this kind of adoption, even if it were possible – which it is not – will definitely play Benjamin Netanyahu’s and Israel’s Zionist game. Theodore Herzl’s dream of ridding “the promised land of Israel” of all “unpure Arabs” has been  kept alive by successive Israeli leaders from Golda Meir to Benjamin Netanyahu through Ariel Sharon.

In modern terms, this would be called “ethnic cleansing”. I don’t think we should inadvertently help in its materialisation. Palestinians should be helped to stay in their country and promote their rightful claim to a sovereign state. But then again, discreet help does not attract the media, does it?

Opinion published in this week's edition of Weekly - weekly@lasentinelle.mu