Gaza: A Cry for Humanity

DILIP DAIMARY

In the tumultuous landscape of the Middle East, where political fault lines intersect with historical grievances, Gaza emerges as a crucible of suffering and resilience.

The enclave, home to nearly two million Palestinians, has become synonymous with protracted conflict, entrenched poverty, and pervasive despair.

Against the backdrop of a decades-long struggle for statehood and self-determination, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of geopolitical strife and international indifference.

Historical Context: The roots of Gaza’s plight can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II, when the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians – an event known as the Nakba, or “catastrophe.”

Gaza, initially under Egyptian control, was occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967, marking the beginning of a prolonged period of military rule and territorial disputes.

Decades of conflict, punctuated by wars, uprisings, and failed peace initiatives, have left Gaza in a state of perpetual crisis, with its people caught in the crossfire of competing national narratives and geopolitical interests.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds: Today, Gaza is reeling from the devastating impact of successive military conflicts, crippling blockades, and a crumbling infrastructure.

The enclave, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, has been subjected to a relentless cycle of violence, with Israeli airstrikes targeting residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. The toll on civilians, particularly women and children, has been catastrophic, with thousands killed, injured, or displaced amid the chaos of war.

Plight of the Vulnerable: Among Gaza’s most vulnerable populations are pregnant women, who face unimaginable challenges amid the chaos of conflict. Hospitals, once sanctuaries of healing, have become targets of military strikes, leaving expectant mothers and newborns at risk of injury or death.

The lack of essential medical supplies, including life-saving medications and equipment, further compounds the crisis, exacerbating maternal and infant mortality rates. For pregnant women in Gaza, the simple act of giving birth has become a perilous journey fraught with uncertainty and fear.

Refugees in Their Own Land: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has also led to a mass exodus of civilians, many of whom have been forced to seek refuge in overcrowded camps and makeshift shelters. These displaced families, robbed of their homes and livelihoods, now face a daily struggle for survival, with limited access to food, clean water, and essential services.

The psychological toll of displacement is equally profound, as families grapple with the trauma of loss, displacement, and uncertainty about the future.

A Call for International Action: Amidst the devastation and despair, there is a growing chorus of voices calling for urgent international action to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The United Nations, along with humanitarian organizations and advocacy groups, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages held in the conflict.

Concrete steps towards a two-State solution, based on international law and UN resolutions, are essential to address the root causes of the conflict and pave the way for a just and lasting peace in the region.

A Call to Conscience: Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is not just a regional issue; it is a global humanitarian imperative that demands urgent attention and action from the international community. The time for platitudes and empty promises has long passed; now is the time for decisive action and unwavering solidarity with the people of Gaza. Every day that we delay in addressing their plight is a day lost to suffering and despair.

Let us heed the call of conscience and stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza, as they struggle to rebuild their lives and reclaim their dignity in the face of adversity.

As the world watches, let us remember that the true measure of our humanity lies in our collective response to the cries of the oppressed and the marginalized. In Gaza, where hope hangs by a thread amidst the rubble of war, let us be the beacon of hope and compassion that lights the path to a brighter, more just future for all.

UN health agency warns over continuing attacks on healthcare: The unrelenting war in Gaza hasn’t spared hospitals, their staff, or the people sheltering there, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday as it unveiled data indicating more than 350 attacks on healthcare in the enclave since hostilities erupted.

A total of 645 people have died since 7 October and another 818 were injured as a result of these incidents, said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic, his comments coming amid allegations that a nurse was shot and critically injured while inside an operating theatre at a hospital in Khan Younis.

“These attacks have affected 98 healthcare facilities, including 27 hospitals damaged out of 36, and affected 90 ambulances, including 50 which sustained damage,” Mr. Jasarevic told journalists in Geneva.

Driven out: In its latest update on the crisis, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported more “intense fighting” in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Thursday involving shelling and heavy gunfire.

Citing UN partner the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PCRS), the UN aid coordination office said that Nasser Hospital and Al Amal Hospital – reportedly under siege for 17 days – had continued to be particularly badly affected by the violence which “is driving thousands of people” from the city further south to Rafah.

Hospital focus: The OCHA update also relayed reports from the Gazan health authority of continuing “allegations of sniper shooting in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital” and allegations that the Israeli military had prevented the movement of ambulances and access to the facility.

“On 8 February, a nurse was reportedly shot and critically injured while inside the operations room in Nasser Hospital and two Palestinians were reportedly shot and killed in the vicinity,” the OCHA update said. “On 7 February, a Palestinian woman was reportedly shot and killed while purportedly fetching water from Nasser Hospital.”

West Bank escalation: The latest WHO data also highlighted the growing number of attacks on healthcare in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza-Israel war erupted on 7 October, after widely condemned Hamas-led terror attacks left 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals butchered and more than 250 taken hostage.

Some 364 attacks on healthcare have happened in the West Bank, resulting in 10 fatalities and 62 injuries, Mr. Jasarevic said. He noted that 44 health facilities had been affected, including 15 mobile clinics and 24 ambulances.

The latest toll from the fighting in Gaza is at least 27,840 fatalities with more than 67,300 injured, according to the local health authority. As of 8 February, 225 Israeli soldiers have been killed with 1,314 injured in Gaza since the beginning of the ground operation, according to the Israeli military.

Renewed famine fears: UN humanitarians continued to highlight that the risk of famine in Gaza is increasing “by the day”, particularly in northern Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people there have been “predominantly cut off from assistance”, OCHA said, despite the fact that this is where the greatest needs are, with many reportedly grinding animal feed to make flour.

Since the onset of the crisis, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered 1,940 trucks – 19 per cent of all aid trucks, it said – carrying over 32,413 tons of lifesaving food supplies.

The last time the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, was able to carry out a food distribution in the north of Wadi Gaza was 23 January, OCHA’s update noted.

Buffer rebuff: As UN humanitarians reiterated deep concerns on Friday about any further escalation of fighting in overcrowded Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, insisted that any reported attempt by Israel to create a “buffer zone” with Gaza could constitute a war crime.

“Article 53 of the Geneva Convention prohibits destruction by the occupying power of property belonging to private persons, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations,” said OHCHR spokesperson Marta Hurtado.

“Destruction carried out to create a buffer zone for general security purposes do not appear consistent with the …military operations.”

Commando comment: Asked for a reaction to an Israeli counter-terrorism operation inside a West Bank hospital that left three Palestinian militants dead late last month, Ms. Hurtado noted that Israeli security forces had claimed that one of those targeted had a gun, “ a claim denied by hospital staff.

No exchange of fire was reported, she said, emphasizing that under applicable international human rights law, firearms may only be used when strictly necessary to prevent an imminent threat to life or serious injury and is otherwise unlawful.

[This comprehensive article seeks to provide a holistic overview of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, contextualizing it within the broader historical and geopolitical dynamics of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It underscores the urgent need for international action to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s people and calls upon the global community to stand in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable in their quest for peace, justice, and dignity.]

10-02-2024

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