Don't Ignore the Man-Made Famine in Gaza

The blockade of Gaza is barbaric and criminal, and it must not be allowed to continue.

Alex de Waal comments on the recent IPC report warning of famine in Gaza:

They could have stated the matter more simply. Mass death through starvation is the certain outcome of Israel’s continued blockade and ongoing military campaign. The only question is when.

The use of starvation as a weapon is a war crime. In addition to its frequent bombings of civilians, Israel is using starvation as a weapon to attack and destroy more than two million people. All of this has been extensively documented. It is all being done out in the open, but nothing is being done to stop it. The administration could force an end to it, but they have no intention of putting any pressure on Netanyahu to end the war or the siege.

It was galling to hear Trump talk about peace in his recent speech when he supported the resumption of the exceptionally brutal and destructive war in Gaza earlier this year. For all the talk of a rift between Trump and Netanyahu on other issues, the president seems to be very comfortable with the catastrophe that the Israeli government is causing. Trump denounced the folly of interventionists at the same time that his administration is enabling a genocide in full view of the world.

The man-made famine in Gaza should be the top story in the world. There is no more urgent humanitarian crisis anywhere on the planet. It is indictment of our political leaders and our media outlets that the deliberate mass starvation of more than two million people by a U.S.-backed government can happen with relatively little coverage and even less of a response.

We are witnessing a genocidal campaign in action. The evidence is incontrovertible, and it has been for a long time. The Israeli government is “deliberately inflicting” on Palestinians “conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” to use the language of the Genocide Convention. Our government is an accomplice in the crime.

The last two months have completely vindicated the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for Israel’s starvation crimes, but thanks to U.S. sanctions the ICC is now unable to function. The crippling of the ICC through Trump’s sanctions means that war criminals all around the world are getting a free pass, and that is happening because our government wants to shield the war criminals in the Israeli government from accountability for their outrages. The destructive effects of our government’s atrocious Gaza policy will not be limited to Gaza.

De Waal warns that there isn’t much time left:

Twice already during this war, the people of Gaza have pulled back from the brink of categorical famine – both times after warnings from the IPC – but the recovery has been momentary before another plunge. Few humanitarian workers believe this cycle of deprivation followed by partial respite can continue for much longer before there’s rapid and uncontrollable collapse.

Time is running short. The people of Gaza do not deserve this brutal treatment. No civilian population should ever be treated this way. The blockade of Gaza is barbaric and criminal, and it must not be allowed to continue.