The United Nations human rights office has recently observed that Israel’s restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza could amount to a war crime. According to the Spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office, the extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with how it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a grave war crime. Meanwhile, attacks on aid workers, humanitarian facilities and aid convoys, and access restrictions for relief staff, particularly in northern Gaza are currently a matter of extreme concern for the global community.
Israel’s ruthless bombardment and inhumane atrocities against innocent Gazans continued since October 8 last year. More than 31,819 Palestinians, mostly women, and children, have been killed and over 74,000 wounded in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched an invasion against Hamas over five months ago. Israel’s war against Hamas has created a humanitarian crisis throughout the Gaza Strip and devastation in northern region, which is largely cut off from the rest of the territory with little aid entering. Although, several western nations including the US, the UK, Germany, and Jordan have launched an airdrop campaign to provide essential food items to bereaved Palestinians, but such airdrop operations could not be an alternative to providing food grains to several million Palestinians presently incarcerated in an open prison under ruthless aggression of the worst enemy. Extreme level hunger and severe malnutrition are widespread in Gaza, where about 2.2 million Palestinians are facing a famine-like situation that has begun now in some areas and gradually expanding and worsening all across the enclave which is completely blockaded by Israeli troops from the Sea, land, and air.
The rogue Netanyahu regime has intentionally imposed a blockade and starved the poor Palestinians since October 8, apparently to punish common Palestinians, spread fear and harassment so no one dare to take arms against the occupier state in the future. The global community and UN rights experts continuously stressing an immediate ceasefire to avert an escalating famine that draws in rapidly every passing day.
A strange and deplorable policies of the western nations and multiple organs of the United Nations have been experienced by the World during the months long conflict in Gaza, wherein the major countries support Israel warmachine through provision of latest weaponery and resolutely sabotage ceasefire efforts at the UN Security Council on the one hand, while supply humanitarian aid in war torn Gaza and struggle for temporary truce on the other. Similarly, the UN Secretary-General, UN Human Rights Chief, FWO, and General Assembly have categorically admitted Israel’s criminality and urged for action against the Jewish State but unfortunately, the UN executive bodies such as the UN Security Council and the ICJ are unable to observe Tel Aviv’s war crimes and issue a ceasefire order in Gaza. Such dubious policies and biased attitudes seriously undermining international peace and eroding trust in the multilateral forums in the world.
Previously, the ICJ ordered Israel to change its course, avoid civilians casualties and give passage to humanitarian aid but since then conditions in Gaza have worsened, and Israel inhumane warcrimes continued against Palestinians. The Israeli authorities are undoubtedly involved in Palestinians’ genocide and undertaking measures that mount to warcrimes and apartheid yet the global forums are helpless to play their due role in protecting humanity from the oppresser. Surprisingly, several world nations have adopted a principled stance over Gaza war but the Muslim countries and the OIC failed in playing an effective role in Palestine crisis. Until and unless, Muslim nations show courage and unity no force can bring a change in the existing conditions of Muslim Ummah in the contemporary world.
