Palestinians face imminent famine in Gaza
Blinken’s multiple visits to the region have failed to address the painful truth that Israel is selectively targeting civilians in the Strip
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has been making rounds of the Middle East to address growing concerns around the world as to the extent of the Israeli onslaught in Gaza. Despite all the air miles he has accrued, there has been no incremental path to peace.
The reasons are simple. The current government in Israel has demonstrated its intent is to go all out, and assisted by thousands of US-provided guided munition, has been successful in destroying most of Gaza’s infrastructure leading to huge casualties and displacement of people, who keep fleeing from one end to the other only to be met with more bombs and destruction.
The painful truth is that civilians have been selectively targeted. Hospitals, schools and medical infirmaries were primary targets as was the population of women and children. Recent casualty figures of civilian Palestinians have risen past the 35,000 mark with more than 15,000 being children and another 8,000 women. Millions more today face famine and malnutrition as the Israelis have effectively cut off all sources of humanitarian aid from getting through.
In Gaza’s north, a full-blown famine is imminent. According to a UN-backed report, famine will hit Gaza’s northern governorates between now and May.
Today, one-third of children under the age of two in Gaza’s north are suffering from acute malnutrition, more than double the number from a month ago. The death toll of children dying daily of starvation and dehydration has risen to double figures while Democrats and Republicans alike want to continue banning US funding for UNRWA, the UN agency that serves Palestinian refugees.
Hani Sabra, a New York-based political analyst with more than 15 years of experience focused on the Middle East, states that “from Joe Biden on down, liberals denounce anti-Muslim bias to avoid mentioning the scourge of hate against Palestinians”. It is exactly the pressures brought to bear by these pro-Israel forces that would shunt the mere words ‘Palestine’ and ‘Palestinian’ to oblivion — let alone the notion of Palestinian people. A well-meaning liberal can attract controversy by, say, just mentioning ‘Gaza’ or ‘the occupation’ in an Oscar speech without so much as uttering the word ‘Palestine’.
Effective manipulation by Western media has disguised the true reality as the Israeli onslaught targeted civilian areas freely with little condemnation by the West.Even as the humanitarian concerns mounted, Blinken made clear that the US would stand with Israel, even as others criticised its occupation and subjugation of Palestinians. “You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to,” Blinken said. “We will always be there by your side.”
What is the purpose of this trip by Blinken? Reports are suggesting that Israel is launching the Rafah invasion quietly to avoid international criticism. Talk, talk, and more talk while young and innocent lives are deliberately denied the sustenance to live another day.