A heart that remains unmoved by the sight of children fading in the embrace of their powerless mothers is likely not human.
The avoidable disasters in Gaza represent a stain on our time. However, where is the international pressure to demand an end to the suffering?
It’s hard to imagine that life in the 21st century has turned so purely transactional that it’s immune to the suffering of vulnerable children. If this is true, we find ourselves in a very bleak situation.
Certainly, the unjustified brutality seen every day in Gaza is unacceptable within a system governed by rules. However, it seems that, even after 22 months, there are no levels of suffering from which the residents of the area can expect to be free.
And thus, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio felt it appropriate to criticize France for being the first G7 country to acknowledge Palestine as a state. He described it as a “slap in the face” to the families of those killed by Hamas.
Is he unaware that 60,000 Palestinians have died since then? Worries about them and their surviving family members, along with the increasing number of fatalities, appear to be absent.
Every death is unfortunate. Being indifferent to the large-scale loss of life can lead to being stuck in an unavoidable ethical void.
The hunger crisis in Gaza has reached such a severe level that even medical personnel who have been sent to assist are succumbing to starvation. Meanwhile, the killing of desperate individuals—many of whom are children who have taken on the duty of supporting their families—keeps happening.
The scenes of the weak and impoverished waiting in line for any leftovers they can receive are reminiscent of the Dark Ages. With ongoing daily attacks, Israeli forces fire close to where aid is distributed.
Dr Nick Maynard, who has recently returned from Gaza, shared with RTÉ that he encountered young boys who had been shot in the genital area. He suggested they may have been used for target practice, as the injuries were all alike.
However, as the number of deaths due to starvation increases, Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu appeared on the radio to assert: “There is no hunger in Gaza.”
Israel “is moving quickly for Gaza to be destroyed,” he stated, referring to Palestinians as “brainwashed Nazis.” “Thank God we are eliminating this evil,” he continued.
A female physician is cited in theWashington Post as stating: “I can’t envision dying from starvation after 21 months of bombing. We are all heading towards death.”
Crimes are just as heinous when committed by elected officials and supported by democratic administrations.
Nevertheless, during this most challenging time, Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seem to be stepping away from peace negotiations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that it was evident Hamas had no intention of reaching an agreement, while Mr. Trump mentioned they would now have to be “tracked down.”
The fact that Hamas must face consequences is not up for debate. However, this “perpetual war” where civilians and children are considered insignificant and disposable is unjust and unacceptable, and it needs to end.
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