Under the cover of this military escalation, Israel is carrying out a broader agenda to ethnically cleanse Gaza’s territory. This campaign comes on the heels of several inflammatory statements and acts that have attracted global condemnation and alarm. The stakes of the conflict are rising dramatically. In Gaza, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating at an accelerated pace with grim forecasts endangering the survival of babies and the entire population.
In just one month, the Israeli government has escalated from airstrikes to genocide, dropping more than 85,000 tons of bombs on the people of Gaza. Meanwhile, media reports provide stark confirmation that these military actions have led to the deaths of more than 100 civilians. The Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has made headlines with his assertive declaration: “We are destroying everything in Gaza, the world isn’t stopping us.” This declaration highlights the dangerous intentions of Israeli leadership as they conduct an unprecedented and destructive military offensive that is currently ongoing.
Something deeply concerning just happened. The United Nations secretary-general for humanitarian affairs raised the alarm that, if the blockade on Gaza is not lifted right now, at least 14,000 babies will die without the basic items they need. This glum prediction should send shivers down our collective spines. Extended military campaign and blockade of the area would have disastrous humanitarian consequences.
As part of its campaign, Israel has disseminated leaflets throughout Gaza depicting parted waters engulfing buildings, with a glowing Star of David illustrated as a weapon. This imagery has led to severe backlash and outrage. To so many, it’s a symbol of aggression, which adds stress to an already delicate ecosystem.
Against this harrowing backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that, with the world watching, it must display humanitarian intervention. He thinks it is international pressure that requires these sham appearances. He called all of the people of Gaza “evil.” Finally, he stressed that Israel had to eradicate this existential threat once and for all. His recent comments have come under impeachment from leaders across the world who argue that inflammatory rhetoric like this only serves to escalate violence and hatred.
Reports have emerged that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute ethnic cleansing and genocide. These were perpetrated by militias supported by the Indonesian military in East Timor. This troubling comparison strikes a chord and raises difficult questions about holding actors responsible for systemic violence perpetrated against civilian communities in conflict.
Palestinians in Gaza have already endured overwhelming suffering under the crushing blockade. The food crisis now is more acute than ever, as civilians starve en masse. Netanyahu commented on the situation, stating, “Our best friends in the world – senators I know as strong supporters of Israel – have warned that they cannot support us if images of mass starvation emerge.” This current quote expresses well the precarious line that Israel needs to tread between military goals and international optics.
The scale of devastation in Gaza is hard to overstate. Human rights reports estimate that some 61,700 lives have been cut short directly as a result of the aerial bombardment. The situation has prompted calls from various humanitarian organizations for a no-fly zone to be established around Gaza to prevent further aerial bombardment. These urgent appeals show just how desperately there needs to be an international intervention to protect the lives of civilians.
As Israel continues its offensive, it has been reported that it seeks to secure 65% of Gaza’s land through military positioning. This ambition takes on even greater concern as to what the long-term realities taken by Israel would mean for the stability and peace of the region.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens by the day. Comments from leaders such as Moshe Feiglin only add gas to the flames. He notoriously proclaimed that, “Every child in [Gaza] is the enemy.” Such rhetoric only serves to deepen the culture of fear and hatred that underlies this conflict.