The Gaza Strip remains under relentless assault, enduring over 440 days of aggression marked by the systematic targeting of civilians in homes, shelters, and refugee camps amidst an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Since October 7, 2023, the ongoing Israeli military campaign has claimed the lives of 45,129 Palestinians and left 107,338 wounded-most of them women and children.
This daily barrage of violence has led to unspeakable tragedies. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that hospitals are overwhelmed and unable to cope with the influx of casualties. The Israeli occupation forces have turned almost all hospitals in the Gaza Strip into rubble and ruins. Many victims remain trapped under the destroyed buildings, with others left unburied in the streets, their bodies exposed to further indignities. Starvation and thirst have become tools of warfare, while humanitarian crews struggle to reach those in need due to constant bombardment.
The devastation has prompted urgent calls for accountability from many rights advocating bodies, but no one listens or cares about the tragedies that are happening in Gaza around the clock. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has demanded independent international investigations to hold perpetrators accountable for crimes against Palestinian civilians. The Geneva-based organisation recently released findings of its investigation, highlighting massacres like an airstrike on a mosque during dawn prayers that killed over 15 Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly. Such acts represent serious violations of international law and amount to crimes against humanity, given their systematic and widespread nature. The international community’s inaction in the face of these atrocities is deeply troubling. Despite well-documented evidence of crimes against humanity and genocide, global powers and institutions remain paralysed, and, in most cases, they provide cover for Israeli crimes. Instead of taking decisive action, many limit their responses to calls for peace, ignoring their responsibility to enforce international law and prevent further suffering.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have previously underscored the systematic dehumanisation of Palestinian civilians. These findings demand immediate action to halt the ongoing genocide and ensure justice for the victims. Human rights organisations have provided extensive documentation, reinforcing the urgent need for intervention. A decisive international response is critical. The global community must prioritise an immediate ceasefire, protection for civilians, and the restoration of full civil and human rights for the people of Gaza. Inaction is not an option. The world has a moral and legal obligation to end this war of extermination and hold the Israeli occupation leaders responsible and accountable for their crimes.
