Following Israel’s three-day attack on the population of Gaza – and the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire – the United Nations offers this update on the situation and humanitarian needs left in the wake of the Israeli violence.
Gaza has become “uninhabitable,” not because of ecological disaster or Palestinian poor stewardship of the land, but because Israel chooses to destroy it by every means – poisoning, starvation, disease, poverty, medical neglect, and invasion – while the world stands silent.
Each month, numerous NGOs produce reports on the humanitarian situation in Israel-Palestine, but US media rarely report on them. See this compilation of reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, National Lawyers Guild, Red Cross, Christian Aid, B’Tselem, Defense for Children International, and others…
As the man-made crisis in Gaza is nearing a dangerous climax, Israel’s military has awarded the Gaza Division with a “certificate of appreciation” for its role in suppressing Palestinian protests. Described in the media as “clashes,” these protests involve Israeli snipers firing into crowds of unarmed young Palestinians. The award was given as the number of unarmed protesters wounded since March 30 surpassed 22,000 and the killings reached 198.
Medical work in Gaza is impeded by the unmanageable number of wounded, the complex injuries that will require multiple follow-up procedures, and the shortage of supplies. Add to that the difficulty in getting permission for patients to seek medical attention outside the country – it adds up to an impossible situation.