The Silent Pain of Gaza: Israel’s Actions and Global Inaction.
This morning, a search for Gaza news on social media required an extensive scroll through the feed before encountering even a single mention of the troubled homeland.
Despite the lack of global attention, updates from friends, family, and social platforms reveal that the grim situation in Gaza remains unchanged from a year ago. Its people continue their desperate appeals for help, hoping the world will listen.
A Besieged Hospital and Unanswered Pleas
For three months, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appealed to the world for assistance as the Israeli army besieged the facility. Supplies were cut off, the hospital was bombarded, and lives were lost.
On December 12, Dr. Abu Safia lamented through a video that the hospital had been reduced to minimal functionality and urgently needed a humanitarian corridor to continue providing services. However, his calls went unanswered.
On December 26, Israeli bombardment outside the hospital killed a woman and five medical workers. Among the victims were a pediatrician, a laboratory technician, paramedics, and a maintenance worker. Inside the hospital, a nurse’s life hung in the balance after shrapnel shattered his skull.
Yesterday, the hospital faced another assault when Israeli soldiers stormed in, setting it on fire, expelling 350 patients, and detaining Dr. Abu Safia along with other staff members.
Targeting Medical Personnel
The global response to such horrors has been muted. Apart from minimal reactions from a few Middle Eastern countries and the World Health Organization, the international community remained largely silent. Earlier this month, Dr. Said Joudeh, the last orthopaedic surgeon in northern Gaza, was assassinated while commuting to his workplace at al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp.
Dr. Joudeh, who returned to work from retirement due to a dire shortage of doctors caused by targeted killings, had continued working even after his son was killed. His assassination marked another step in Israel’s strategy to obliterate civilian life in northern Gaza by targeting its infrastructure.
Obstructing Life-Saving Efforts
Efforts to save lives have been systematically obstructed, with the Israeli army targeting civil defence teams and ambulances. Those attempting rescue operations have often been killed in the process.
Additionally, hunger and a lack of essential supplies have gripped Gaza as Israel restricts humanitarian aid and commercial trucks. Stories of families enduring starvation abound, including that of a displaced teacher whose diabetic cousin could not find bread for 15 days and struggled to comfort hungry children.
Winter Woes and Ongoing Bombardment
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by a harsh winter, which has already claimed the lives of four infants due to freezing conditions. Despite the cold and famine, Israeli bombardment of homes and displacement camps continues.
On December 7, an airstrike killed Dr. Muhammad al-Nairab’s wife and three daughters, two of whom were doctors. Days later, another attack in Sheikh Radwan killed journalist Iman al-Shanti and her family.
The Pain of Loss
These losses weigh heavily on Gaza’s people. A mother of two expressed anguish after learning of a relative’s tragedy, questioning when the world would acknowledge their humanity.
Journalist Iman al-Shanti had asked similar questions before her death, reflecting on the normalization of genocide against Palestinians. Such normalization not only suppresses their suffering but also denies their humanity, leaving their grief to transcend borders and persist in exile.
A Persistent Grief
In a poignant December 3 post, displaced journalist Dayana al-Mughrabi in Egypt described the perpetual mourning of Gaza’s people.
She reflected on how memories of loved ones are triggered by mundane objects, ensuring that their deaths are relived repeatedly. This unending grief binds Palestinians worldwide, creating a collective sorrow that defies erasure.
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A Call for Hope and Justice
While advocates and activists globally grapple with exhaustion, a glimmer of hope persists among Palestinians. Drawing inspiration from Czech dissident Vaclav Havel, hope emerges not as optimism but as a belief in the meaningfulness of the struggle for justice.
Efforts at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to hold Israel accountable are critical steps toward addressing its actions. The world must not move on from Gaza; instead, it must amplify its cries for justice and ensure that they are finally answered.
