"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
(Elie Wiesel)
Former Israeli lawmaker Moshe Feiglin is quoted as saying, "The enemy is not Hamas. Every child, every baby in Gaza is an enemy." This reflects Israel’s broader policy of collective punishment. The ongoing scale of atrocities unleashed on the innocent, defenseless, and unarmed people of Gaza demonstrates this deep-rooted psyche and the consequent heinous crimes committed by Israel, as echoed by the ex-lawmaker.
And the following poll speaks volumes. Reportedly, a recent poll from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reveals that a significant portion of Israeli respondents support the forced displacement of Palestinians. According to the poll, no less than 82 percent of the Israeli public and 69 percent of those secular polled support forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Furthermore, 56 percent of those polled support the expulsion of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank.
Earlier, after his ascendancy to the White House presidency, Donald Trump dangled the draconian idea of permanently relocating people from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. The proposal was met with stiff opposition from both countries, and it was opposed by various conscientious nations.
Donald Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, is on record as saying that what is happening in Gaza "isn’t genocide." The White House has historically put its political and veto weight behind Israel in the UN Security Council to block resolutions criticising Israeli actions. This support has enabled Israel to maintain a strong military presence in the region. The situation has been described as a dire humanitarian crisis, with around 2 million people in urgent need of assistance.
Under such circumstances, the people in Gaza are experiencing the cruelest phase of ethnic cleansing. The collapse of ceasefire talks in March has culminated in catastrophic humanitarian crises for the people of Palestine.
Today, Gaza is synonymous with death, destruction, displacement, and starvation as a weapon of war imposed on the Gazans. Those children who escaped death triggered by Israeli guns will be devoured by famine caused by the aid blockade institutionalised by Israel. According to a UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) findings, more than 93 percent of children in Gaza—or about 930,000—are at risk of famine. Over 53,000 lives have already been lost.
Quoting an Al Jazeera report, Dawn News mentioned that Gaza’s Government Media Office has registered 300 cases of miscarriages in pregnant women in the enclave due to a lack of food. People are dying due to malnutrition, lack of food, and medicine. While addressing the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), reportedly said relief organisations have "run out of words to describe the horrors unfolding in Gaza."
Many of the states voicing concern now had previously supported the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, despite its war crimes and human rights abuses. The delayed response raises questions about the sincerity of their commitment to human rights and international law
US Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on her Facebook page: "In Gaza, hospitals have collapsed. Babies have run out of formula. Clean drinking water is gone. Meanwhile, trucks filled with aid are waiting idle by the border. Instead of trying to do a Gaza real estate deal, Trump should press the Netanyahu government to open up aid routes and stop starving Palestinians."
Under Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power is obligated to ensure the food and medical needs of the civilian population.
The images of Gazans, especially children who have been reduced to bundles of bones following starvation—used by the Israeli occupation forces as a weapon of war—have shaken some of the European governments that had previously supported Israel. Civil society members in those countries had already been vocal against the crimes committed against Palestinians. With shaken conscience, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada—British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, respectively—have "strongly opposed" the expansion of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, threatening to "take concrete actions" if Israel does not cease its onslaught and lift restrictions on aid supply to the Palestinian enclave.
The Netherlands also urged the European Union (EU) to review a trade agreement with Israel as the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified its bombardment of Gaza amid an aid blockade in place since March 2. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said it clearly, subsequently calling upon world players: "Don’t trade with genocidal states." Imagine Netanyahu’s fascist face in the face of growing criticism on his warmongering, who said that UK, French, and Canadian leaders are "on the wrong side of humanity."
The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza is dire. Israel’s disregard for international law has led to a severe shortage of food, medicine, and other essential supplies. The blockade on humanitarian aid has resulted in the worst food crisis in Gaza, with famine looming large. Malnutrition has taken a devastating toll on the young population, especially children, who are reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. The international community’s inaction has been deafening, with many states prioritising politics over human lives.
Recently, on the heels of humanitarian crisis, some of the European states have taken a belated step by reviewing trade or threatening to slap trade sanctions on Israel following its ongoing onslaught against the people of Palestine. This move is a response to Israel’s continued defiance of international law and its refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, this action comes after years of lip service and inaction. These same states had previously supported the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, despite its war crimes and human rights abuses. The delayed response raises questions about the sincerity of their commitment to human rights and international law. It’s most disturbing to note that Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, remains at large. In principle, he should be held accountable and face trial. This impunity and freedom will embolden others who may follow in his footsteps, committing crimes against humanity.
"All the brains in the world are powerless against the sort of stupidity that is in fashion, “as Joseph de La Fontaine said.
This powerlessness on the part of global political players against the ongoing atrocities unleashed on the innocent people of Palestine, as a policy of collective punishment, has left Gaza to starve and ache, bearing all the hallmarks of genocide. A greater responsibility is placed on the shoulders of the world community to immediately ensure that the genocide is brought to an end without further delay. There has already been too little, too late, in terms of faltering commitment on the part of the global community to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. The world cannot afford these unfolding catastrophic humanitarian conditions. If war crimes such as those committed against the people of Gaza are ignored, vulnerable peoples on other continents will be the next target. Remember the people of Kashmir and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Ukrainians, bearing the brunt of brutality and crimes against humanity, respectively.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is on record having said: "The situation in Palestine in Gaza is beyond description, beyond atrocious and beyond inhumane. A policy of siege and starvation makes a mockery of international law. The blockade against humanitarian aid must end immediately. This is a moment for moral clarity and action." Raising his voice for the voiceless people of Palestine, he told media reporters that "the aid authorised by Israel to enter Gaza amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required. Without rapid, reliable, safe, and sustained aid assistance, more people will die, and the long-term consequences on the entire population will be profound."
Following Donald Trump’s proposal of relocating people of Gaza, a video went viral featuring a little Palestinian girl, who addressed US President Donald Trump, saying: "Why should I leave my home and homeland, Palestine? Will you leave yours? You can control the world, except Gaza." This love for the land is only the reason behind the matchless resilience displayed by Gazans. And this is the reason behind the butchery of those in Gaza.
One of the most shocking sights in Gaza’s war has been thousands of children with amputated limbs from Israel’s bombardment. Recently, a heart-wrenching video of a Palestinian child, Habiba Al-Askari, went viral, showing her struggling with the aftermath of losing her limbs due to injuries sustained in Gaza. The video depicts the child’s dire situation, sparking widespread outrage and concern globally. Videos like these have shaken the conscience of global leaders, who had previously turned a blind eye to the cruelty inflicted upon Gaza. The UN’s humanitarian aid organisation OCHA called it the "largest cohort of child amputees in modern history."
The people of Gaza are paying the price for the world’s inaction. It is imperative that the international community takes concrete steps to address the humanitarian crisis and holds Israel accountable for its actions. The status quo is unacceptable, and the world’s silence is complicity. The time for action is now, and it is crucial that we prioritise human lives over politics and geopolitical interests.
Some potential actions that governments and international organisations could take include:
- Increasing humanitarian aid: Ensuring that Gaza receives the necessary food, medicine, and other essential supplies to alleviate the suffering of its people.
- Holding Israel accountable: Imposing sanctions and taking diplomatic measures to pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect human rights.
- Supporting civil society: Amplifying the voices of activists and organisations working to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
What Benjamin Netanyahu and his accomplices need to realise is that people killed by bombs, bullets, or starvation are martyrs, laying down their lives for their homeland. Every drop of blood sacrificed for Palestine will fuel the unwavering spirit of resistance and martyrdom in future generations.
History testifies that fascists and dictators, and their facilitators, are reduced to mere footnotes in the annals of time, collecting dust and condemnation, whereas those who sacrifice their lives and limbs for their homeland remain alive in spirit, inspiring and energising future generations of revolutionaries.
Søren Kierkegaard said: "The tyrant dies and his rule is over; the martyr dies and his rule begins."
A greater responsibility is placed on the shoulders of the global community to take concrete measures and subsequently put the genie of Palestinian genocide back in the bottle. Will the global political spectrum turn the corner?
As Frederick Douglass put it, "The greatness is not found in power or wealth, but in fight for justice and humanity."