Qatar has said that there is cautious optimism surrounding the ongoing talks aimed at ending the war on the Gaza Strip. Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said yesterday that technical teams from both sides are engaged in discussions and talks would press on, building on what has been achieved. While a ceasefire isn’t guaranteed anytime soon, there’s a sense that building on current efforts might lead to a resolution. The timeframe for these negotiations is uncertain and hinges on proposals being exchanged and solutions found for key contentious issues.
It is vital that a solution is found to put an end to the war and more aid is sent to the people of Gaza with immediate effect. Talking about the current situation, Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said that Israel’s restrictions on aid entering Gaza and its conduct of war amount to the use of starvation as a “method of war, which is a war crime.” UN-backed assessment said 300,000 people in the territory’s north would face famine by May without a surge of aid.
“The situation of hunger, starvation and famine is a result of Israel’s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods,” he said. It was also linked to the “displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure.” Israel’s offensive has so far killed more than 31,800 people, most of them women and children, and left thousands injured and homeless.
A major concern is a potential attack by the occupation forces on Rafah. Such an attack would cause immense destruction, a humanitarian crisis, and further suffering for the hundreds of thousands already struggling with shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities.
A positive development is the initiative to establish a sea route for delivering aid to Gaza. This will help increase the flow of critical supplies to the suffering people. From the beginning, Qatar has consistently supported efforts to ensure aid reaches Gaza and will be one of the countries funding the effort.
The international community must come together and denounce the war crimes committed by the Isarel and exert collective pressure for this barbarism to stop. It is high time that the ongoing human rights violations are stopped, and perpetrators are held accountable.
Targeting of hospitals, schools, medical professionals, journalists, and civilians has to stop and like the UN officials said it is the responsibility of everyone in power to ensure unimpeded aid delivery to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
