Today marks 21 days of the war in Gaza — a devastating bombardment characterised by widespread destruction and the tragic loss of innocent lives, particularly children, women, and older people. It represents one of the most distressing aspects of the Israeli aggression.
Since October 7, the Israeli occupation forces have taken the lives of over 7,000 individuals in the Gaza Strip, with a heart-wrenching toll of nearly 3,000 children and leaving more than 18,484 people injured. Approximately 200,000 housing units, constituting over 25% of the populated areas, have been severely damaged or destroyed.
This devastation has occurred at a time when most of the hospitals in Gaza have been unable to function due to shortages of essential medical supplies and electricity, leaving residents without access to food, water, and electricity services cut off by Israel since the war.
The occupation’s relentless bombardments have wiped entire families and obliterated neighbourhoods and residential communities, along with vital infrastructure such as hospitals, mosques, churches, bakeries, water distribution centres, markets, schools, and educational and service institutions.
This tragic situation is emblematic of a colonial system that has shown no willingness to alter its doctrine, mindset, or notions of superiority, disregarding the fundamental principle of human equality. The colonisers continue to assert their right to act with impunity against those under their rule, where the lives and properties of the oppressed people are deemed of no value, not to mention their rights to live in peace on their own land and enjoy their political and basic human rights. It appears that these principles are only selectively applied by Western powers, often utilised as instruments of pressure or coercion, particularly against smaller countries in Africa and Asia, notably in the Arab and Muslim world.
This is glaringly evident in the actions of Israel in Gaza and the stance taken by major Western nations, which seem to grant Israel absolute rights in its actions against the Palestinian people. Western leaders either remain silent or, at best, offer mere token gestures of sympathy, while some have adopted a rhetoric that echoes Israeli leadership. Human rights, international laws, and humanitarian principles, once universally cherished, have become taboo subjects that few dare to mention regarding Israel.
The relentless bombardments and the displacement of Palestinians, coupled with the support from the United States and select European nations, reveal a sense of frustration in addressing the Palestinian issue as envisioned by these parties. Regardless of the casualties and displacements, the Palestinian cause remains the linchpin of security and stability for all, and the pursuit of peace is indivisible.
