The tragic events unfolding in Gaza, where innocent civilians, including children, women and elders, are caught under heavy Israeli bombardment, serve as a stark reminder of the moral and legal bankruptcy that underpins international affairs. In times like these, the world witnesses the true nature of international politics, where the actions of the powerful often outweigh the obligations of the just.
For almost two weeks, Israel has relentlessly bombed Gaza in retaliation for Hamas forces storming what is known as the Gaza Envelope around two weeks ago. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the war on Gaza has claimed at least 3,785 lives, and children made up 1,524 of the total number of people killed since the beginning of the Israeli aggression.
More than one thousand are reported missing under the rubble, and over 12,000 Palestinians have been injured in the Gaza Strip and 1,300 in the West Bank since the start of the Israeli aggression. The spectre of death and destruction looms large over Gaza while the international community watches with a cold and distant gaze.
Today, Gaza is a testament to the systematic mass killing of its people, carried out to uproot them from their ancestral homeland. It’s a heartbreaking scenario where people have no choice but to face the horrors as no place is safe in the Gaza Strip. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza and flee south, strikes extended across the territory, and hundreds of families have been killed.
Many are forced to witness their dreams, aspirations, and even their loved ones being buried on this land, either alive or dead. Grief-stricken parents carrying the bodies of their children in white shrouds through Gaza streets have become a familiar sight.
The international community, particularly the great powers, must not be allowed to continue their double standards regarding upholding international law and humanitarian principles. The lives of people in Gaza should not be mere pawns in a geopolitical chess game, sacrificed for the sake of political interests.
It is the duty of the international community to demand accountability, justice, and an end to the cycle of aggression and suffering in Gaza.
The tragic situation in Gaza is a grim indictment of a world that has yet to live up to the ideals of international law and humanitarian principles. It is a call to action for all those who believe in justice, peace, and the sanctity of human life to stand up against the hypocrisy that stains the conscience of our global society.
