The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Times Media

.

Amid death and destruction, the latest conflict in Gaza highlights the depths of its humanitarian crisis

  • Written by Amy Maguire, Associate Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle
Amid death and destruction, the latest conflict in Gaza highlights the depths of its humanitarian crisis

Israel launched multiple air strikes on Gaza on August 5, in another eruption of open warfare between Israel and Palestinian militants. The latest attacks come just over a year after hundreds were killed in an intense period of conflict[1] in the territory.

Israel announced[2] its missile strikes were targeting military leaders of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad militant organisation in Gaza. Israel alleged Islamic Jihad forces were making “threatening movements” near the Israeli border.

Israel’s strikes killed[3] two key leaders of Islamic Jihad in Gaza and severely damaged its military capabilities.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad responded by launching hundreds of rockets into Israel. The Israel Defence Forces reported[4] its Iron Dome missile defence system was operating at a 97% success rate in intercepting rockets launched from Gaza. No Israelis had been killed or seriously injured.

But the past three days of intense conflict have extracted a very heavy civilian toll in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports at least 44 dead and over 350 civilians wounded. Reportedly among the dead were 15 Palestinian children[5], including five boys killed by a missile strike as they visited their grandfather’s grave.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire[6] between Israel and Islamic Jihad has now begun. It is too early to say whether the ceasefire will hold, or for how long.

The Palestinian governing authority in Gaza is Hamas[7], which was elected in 2006. Hamas does not recognise the legitimacy of the Israeli state and aims to liberate Palestine through armed resistance. Yet Hamas has not engaged[8] in the most recent outbreak of warfare.

Blockaded Gaza in humanitarian crisis

The Gaza Strip[9] is a 365-square-kilometre territory that has been under Israeli control since 1967, along with the other Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Over 2 million Palestinians live in the densely populated territory. Nearly 80%[10] depend on aid[11] to survive.

Gaza has been under blockade[12] for 15 years. Israel controls its airspace and territorial waters, along with two of three border crossings (Egypt controls the third). Gaza is often referred to as “the world’s largest open-air prison”.

A map showing the Gaza Strip and the 1949 Armistice green line, as well as key cities, no-go zones and high-risk areas.
United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs Humanitarian organisations blame the blockade for the extreme humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Statistics tell a dire story of life in Gaza today: around two-thirds of the Palestinian population of Gaza are refugees[13], with over 500,000 living in eight refugee camps[14] across the Gaza Strip, in some of the highest population densities[15] in the world 97% of Gaza’s water is undrinkable[16], and contaminated water is poisoning people people in Gaza receive a daily average of 12 hours of electricity supply[17] and are subject to rolling power cuts healthcare[18] services in Gaza are in perpetual crisis, starved of power[19], vital equipment, staff and essential medicines 39% of patients needing specialist care in the West Bank or Israel were denied or delayed permission to leave[20] Gaza by Israel this year the unemployment rate[21] is 46.6%, and over 62% for young people four in five children in Gaza report[22] living with fear, grief and depression, often manifesting in self-harm tens of thousands are displaced within Gaza due to the bombardment and ruin of their homes[23]. What hope for a solution? The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has called the latest Israeli strikes on the territory illegal and irresponsible[24]. Her predecessor, S. Michael Lynk, concluded earlier this year that Israel’s occupation of Palestine constitutes apartheid[25]. He accused the international community of failing to hold Israel to account for breaching fundamental international norms over its 55-year occupation, saying: For more than 40 years, the UN Security Council and General Assembly have stated in hundreds of resolutions that Israel’s annexation of occupied territory is unlawful, its construction of hundreds of Jewish settlements are illegal, and its denial of Palestinian self-determination breaches international law. The Council and the Assembly have repeatedly criticized Israel for defying their resolutions. They have threatened consequences. But no accountability has ever followed. If the international community had truly acted on its resolutions 40 or 30 years ago, we would not be talking about apartheid today. Israel’s most powerful ally, the United States, rejects such characterisations. In relation to the most recent warfare, the US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, tweeted: British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss echoed this position: There is no sign that the most recent outbreak of warfare has or will alter the status quo[26]. No peace process is operating to find durable solutions to the conflict. Recent years show no trend away from perpetual conflict[27] and entrenchment of positions anathema to a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. For the people of Gaza, the stalemate becomes increasingly untenable every day.

References

  1. ^ intense period of conflict (www.bbc.com)
  2. ^ announced (www.washingtonpost.com)
  3. ^ killed (www.nytimes.com)
  4. ^ reported (www.timesofisrael.com)
  5. ^ 15 Palestinian children (www.middleeasteye.net)
  6. ^ ceasefire (www.aljazeera.com)
  7. ^ Hamas (www.cfr.org)
  8. ^ not engaged (apnews.com)
  9. ^ Gaza Strip (www.aljazeera.com)
  10. ^ Nearly 80% (www.unicef.org)
  11. ^ aid (reliefweb.int)
  12. ^ under blockade (www.un.org)
  13. ^ refugees (www.unrwa.org)
  14. ^ refugee camps (www.un.org)
  15. ^ highest population densities (www.unrwa.org)
  16. ^ undrinkable (www.trtworld.com)
  17. ^ electricity supply (www.ochaopt.org)
  18. ^ healthcare (www.map.org.uk)
  19. ^ power (www.nytimes.com)
  20. ^ permission to leave (www.ochaopt.org)
  21. ^ unemployment rate (reliefweb.int)
  22. ^ report (reliefweb.int)
  23. ^ their homes (www.reuters.com)
  24. ^ illegal and irresponsible (www.aljazeera.com)
  25. ^ apartheid (www.ohchr.org)
  26. ^ status quo (www.nytimes.com)
  27. ^ perpetual conflict (www.usip.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/amid-death-and-destruction-the-latest-conflict-in-gaza-highlights-the-depths-of-its-humanitarian-crisis-188351

The Times Features

The Gift That Keeps Growing: Why Tinybeans+ Gift Cards are a game-changer for new parents

As new parents navigate the joys and challenges of raising a child in the digital age, one question looms large: how do you preserve and share your baby's milestones without co...

Group Adventures Made Easy: How to Coordinate Shuttle Services from DCA to IAD

Traveling as a large group can be both exciting and challenging, especially when navigating busy airports like DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) and IAD (Washington...

From Anxiety to Assurance: Proven Strategies to Support Your Child's Emotional Health

Navigating the intricate landscape of childhood emotions can be a daunting task for any parent, especially when faced with common fears and anxieties. However, transforming anxie...

The Rise of Meal Replacement Shakes in Australia: Why The Lady Shake Is Leading the Pack

Source Meal replacement shakes are having a moment in Australia, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re quick, convenient, and packed with nutrition, making them the perfect solu...

HCF’s Healthy Hearts Roadshow Wraps Up 2024 with a Final Regional Sprint

Next week marks the final leg of the HCF Healthy Hearts Roadshow for 2024, bringing free heart health checks to some of NSW’s most vibrant regional communities. As Australia’s ...

The Budget-Friendly Traveler: How Off-Airport Car Hire Can Save You Money

When planning a trip, transportation is one of the most crucial considerations. For many, the go-to option is renting a car at the airport for convenience. But what if we told ...

Times Magazine

Chemist Warehouse introduces QR code payments

Australians will now be able to pay by QR code at Chemist Warehouse. The code will allow shoppers to input their bank details and pay directly, avoiding fees charged by Visa and Mastercard. This rollout comes alongside the Treasurer today announ...

Apple releases iPhone 14, best deals and perks

Apple has unveiled its next generation tech and the hotly anticipated iPhone 14 with offers from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone up for grabs.Prices for the iPhone 14 line-up start at $1,399 and go up to $2,769.Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker revea...

The Seamless Transition from Blogs to AI-Enhanced Videos

The stuff we see and do online keeps changing because new technologies and websites pop up. We use different things like words, pictures, sounds, and videos. Blogs are one of the oldest and coolest ways people share their thoughts online. They us...

Prevent Electrical Hazards With Key Safety Measures for Power Strip Circuit Breaker

As the reliance on technology increases, so does the number of electronic devices use on a daily basis. With this increase in electronic usage, the need for power strips has become more prevalent. Power strips are used as a convenient way to increa...

10 Essay Help Tips to Share with Friends

Are you someone struggling with writing essays? A well-written essay is sometimes a challenging task. But you are not alone in the journey of essay writing.  You can't always create an interesting essay as it calls for a flow of creativity. A lot ...

Tony Potts: Celebrating a Legacy of Iconic Photography

Art + Gallery at Potts Point will present a much-anticipated exhibition from 8 to 21 this November, showcasing the extraordinary work of renowned fashion and fine art photographer Tony Potts. This exclusive showing will offer a rare glimpse into ...