Rosalind Evans
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, the human cost has been immense, with the entire population of Gaza “being dehumanized,” according to Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire, stating, “This is a time for war.” The UN Security Council has heard heartbreaking reports of the devastation and loss experienced by the people in Gaza, including the deaths of thousands of children due to Israeli airstrikes. This has prompted major UN agencies to call for a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies, and the safe release of hostages believed to be held by Hamas.
Philippe Lazzarini stated, “An immediate humanitarian ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions.” The director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Lisa Doughten, echoed this sentiment, saying the “scale of the horror” experienced by the Gazans is “hard to convey.” Meanwhile, Netanyahu has justified Israel’s unrelenting force as a response to Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks, which killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in hundreds being taken hostage. Netanyahu likened the situation to the United States’ position after Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the September 11 attacks in 2001, asserting that “this is a time for war.”
Despite the complexity of the situation, it is crucial to recognize the immense suffering faced by the civilians in Gaza and prioritize their immediate needs. The international community must intensify efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the more than 2 million civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip. The human cost of this conflict is unacceptable, and the calls for a humanitarian ceasefire by the UN agencies must be heeded to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
