Daily Times

That many in the international media insist on calling the heart-wrenching tragedy unfolding in a tiny Palestinian enclave a war between Israel and Hamas is enough to understand why humanity has conveniently wandered off into the Mediterranean Sea.

Weeks into Israel Defence Forced had stormed inside the heavily besieged strip, turning Gaza into a maze of rubble and dead bodies, a Palestinian doctor had cried out, “Are we not equal human beings.” Today when over 16000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands left critically wounded, and nearly 80 per cent of the population forced out of their homes while the Netanyahu Administration has turned towards South Gaza, the helplessness of those languishing between the fire and the frying pain burns through the idealistic notions.

There’s absolutely nowhere to go. Those anticipating their death are fast running out of options to hide–hungry, thirsty and exasperated by the sight of cruel tanks, determined missiles, an unfazed, no-willing-to-back-down government and an immune world. The decision to target Khani Younis, a city brimming with at least eight hundred thousand people, thanks to devastation engulfing the North has drawn criticism from several countries.

Although authorities in the West remain steadfast in their support of an unprecedented genocide orchestrated by Tel Aviv, thousands across Europe and a significantly larger number of Americans are demanding a ceasefire. Under ordinary circumstances, our conscience should not be reminded about not looking away from what is happening in Gaza.

Standing on the cusp of an outright catastrophe, the fast-deteriorating humanitarian situation would not be magically cured by a one-time invoking of Article 99 by the UN Secretary-General. All countries, especially those in the Muslim world, would have to be more vocal, emphasising th critical need for a full ceasefire, resumption of aid and return to diplomacy. Where is the influence that Middle Eastern countries had promised to wield at the deliberations table to argue for a two-state solution when asked? *