The escalating humanitarian crisis calls for immediate and effective global intervention
The humanitarian emergency in Gaza is getting scarier by the hour as Israeli forces stand around Shifa Hospital, occasionally using their arsenal and exacerbating an already grim scenario. Reports of people dying inside the hospital compound — people dying inside a hospital where they are supposed to be nursed back to health, mind you! — have rung alarm bells, calling for immediate international intervention. Shifa Hospital, the biggest medical facility in Gaza, has become a focal point in the ongoing conflict. The presence of Israeli forces at its gates has heightened tensions and created a sense of desperation among civilians seeking refuge and medical assistance there. Even under international humanitarian law, any threat or attack on a healthcare institute raises serious ethical concerns. The siege has disrupted the hospital's functioning, preventing medics from providing assistance to those in need. This situation highlights the severe consequences of the conflict on the civilian population, particularly on the most vulnerable, such as the sick, elderly and the injured. A documentary film, ‘Tears of Gaza’, was made by Norwegian director Vibeke Løkkeberg in 2010. At the time, the film came as an eye-opener on the atrocities faced by Palestinians in Israel-ruled Gaza since 1967. If that film were to be remade, it would be rechristened ‘Tears of Blood in Gaza’ as all hope has abandoned Gaza, where residents have been left out in the cold to stare at imminent death. Even the UN stands as a mute spectator of the genocide, which is nothing less than a crime against humanity.
The situation has been complicated by the shocking statement of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, who has suggested that Gaza should be subjected to nuclear force. It is not only a morally reprehensible statement but also escalates a volatile situation, raising concerns about the potential for further violence. The Minister's statement has rightly drawn widespread condemnation, including calls for accountability and a revaluation of the international community's role in mediating the conflict. The world must respond promptly to the deteriorating situation in Gaza. Diplomatic efforts should be intensified to bring about an immediate ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian access to the affected areas. Humanitarian organisations must be allowed to operate freely, providing essential aid and medical care to the civilian population. The inflammatory rhetoric by Government members underscores the urgent need for de-escalation of armed conflict and diplomacy boost. International community, including organisations like the United Nations, must work towards securing immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip as, by the army's own accord, the Hamas has been decimated which means there is no longer any rationale to carry on with its armed campaign.
