DaysofPal—Those who remain passive as Israel continues its devastating campaign in Gaza are also complicit in the suffering. Despite clear violations of international humanitarian law, the global community has failed to hold the Israeli occupation accountable.
For 19 months, Israeli crimes in Gaza have amounted to what many describe as genocide, targeting not only lives but also the essential infrastructure necessary for survival.
In Gaza, death comes in many forms: airstrikes, disease, starvation, or the collapse of healthcare services. The constant threat of death has become so normalized that Palestinians often face multiple risks simultaneously. For example, people waiting in line for food aid at charity kitchens—desperate to avoid starvation—are frequently bombed by Israeli occupation forces. One such incident occurred recently in al-Mawasi, where a volunteer described the chaos after an attack: “I was handing out food to children when suddenly everything changed. Blood was everywhere, screams filled the air, and the kitchen turned into flames.”
Since October 2023, reports indicate that Israeli occupation forces have bombed at least 26 food distribution centers and 37 aid hubs in Gaza. While the meals provided at these kitchens are often basic—limited to staples like lentils, rice, and beans—Palestinians endure long waits for even this meager sustenance, highlighting the dire state of the humanitarian crisis. Many families can no longer access the most fundamental necessities, making these kitchens their final lifeline against hunger.
The Israeli blockade has exacerbated the situation, creating new tragedies. In January, a young boy named Abdul Rahman Nabhan tragically died after falling into a boiling pot of food at a shelter in Nuseirat camp. Food distribution efforts, run by volunteers and charities, have been severely hampered by restrictions on supplies entering Gaza. Since March, no food trucks have been allowed in, forcing bakeries to close due to shortages of fuel and flour. Most aid organizations have scaled back operations, leaving Gaza’s two million residents confronting a dire catastrophe.
Tens of thousands of children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition, jeopardizing their long-term development. “Children are eating less than one meal daily and struggling to survive,” said Bushra al-Khalidi of Oxfam. “The population relies solely on canned food, and conditions resembling famine are spreading.” Using starvation as a weapon against an entire population is indefensible. Yet, Israeli occupation continues this policy with no consequences, emboldened by far-right ministers advocating for extreme measures, including blocking all aid.
Israeli occupation operates with impunity because the world has shown little resolve to enforce accountability for breaches of international law. If the Israeli occupation’s allies had taken a firm stance against collective punishment in Gaza, it might have reconsidered its approach to avoid damaging its global standing. However, this has not occurred.
Thus, responsibility for Gaza’s starvation extends beyond Israeli occupation. It is shared by those who support the Israeli occupation economically, politically, or militarily, as well as by those who remain silent, effectively endorsing the actions of those committing these crimes.
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