Israel’s deadly war on Gaza continues in its third month, killing more than 21,000 Palestinians in Gaza, majority of whom are women and children. Another 55,000 people are wounded while hundreds also remain missing, many under the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli bombings.
The State of Qatar has been working tirelessly since day one of the war to protect Gaza’s civilian population and deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the population under total siege and blockade by Israel. Last month Qatar achieved a breakthrough when it helped, along with the US and Egypt, broker a ceasefire between the two sides. That humanitarian pause resulted in release of hundreds of detainees on both sides as well as delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to the affected people.
Qatar continues its efforts to revive the pause and speed up the delivery of aid to Gaza. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has led Qatar’s efforts for peace. On Tuesday, H H the Amir received a phone call from US President H E Joe Biden. They discussed the overall situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as joint mediation efforts to calm the situation and reach a permanent ceasefire.
While Qatar and some other countries and forums have been making sincere efforts, overall the global community has failed the people of Gaza. A UN Security Council resolution demanding humanitarian ceasefire was vetoed by the US, while the UK neither supported nor opposed the resolution, which was put forward by the United Arab Emirates and voted for by 13 members of the UN Security Council.
After the UNSC failed to adopt the resolution to pause the conflict, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for humanitarian ceasefire in the war-torn Palestinians territory. However, unlike the UNSC, the UNGA resolution is non-binding.
The UNSC, however, adopted another resolution to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza. Nonetheless, the aid being allowed into Gaza remains limited and far below the requirements. Qatar has also continued its relief shipments for the people of Gaza. The state has so far delivered close 1,600 tonnes of aid transported by 52 flights by Qatar Armed Forces aircraft. Qatar has also evacuated Qatari residency holders from Gaza and is also evacuating 1,500 wounded people for treatment in Qatar.
Palestinians are being killed daily in hundreds by the Israeli attacks even as the Gaza population starves under Israeli siege. It is time the world community compelled Israel to halt its deadly campaign and let the people of Gaza live.
