The Gaza tragedy and the dismantling of the Palestinian cause
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The Gaza Strip, densely populated with 2.4 million people, has become the stage of a humanitarian catastrophe that is no longer just 'worsening' – it has crossed the line of shock into something resembling normalization. Figures from UNRWA show that malnutrition cases among children under the age of five have doubled between March and June. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization raises the alarm, reporting that one in every five children in Gaza City is suffering from severe malnutrition, warning that the continued siege will claim even more lives.
This raises the question: How did we get here? How did famine become a weapon of war and a familiar image? Where are the international human rights organizations and Western institutions? Why the silence in the face of Gaza's children dying of hunger? How many more images does the world need to understand that what's happening in Gaza has gone far beyond reason?
The truth is, Gaza has become a mirror reflecting the world's betrayal. The famine there is not fate or divine will – it's the result of a long siege and systematic strangulation policies that have left people with no way to live. While Gaza burns and homes are demolished with people still inside, hope is murdered every day in the eyes of those who survive. What's happening in Gaza is not just a food crisis – it is a moral collapse of the so-called civilized world. Today's generation is witnessing a war being waged on souls who have nothing left to eat, and watching a global system fail. A generation that now understands peace isn't made in major capitals – it's born out of the recognition of tragedy, the ability to feel for others, the cries of the hungry, and the tragic face of humanity.
Even though international humanitarian law clearly defines starvation of civilians as a war crime – stating that 'starving civilian populations as a method of warfare is prohibited' – the UN Security Council has passed resolutions condemning the use of hunger as a weapon and labeling it a grave violation of international law. But the truth is, what's happening in Gaza doesn't exist in a historical vacuum. The narrative of starvation warfare is not unique to Gaza – it has been used before in places like Africa, Bosnia, and elsewhere. This reveals that the notion of humanity and human rights is, in reality, selective and driven by political will, not governed by international law.
Amid this ongoing tragedy, Saudi diplomacy once again moved the needle and stirred global conscience with a diplomatic breakthrough. This effort resulted in France, the UK, and Canada announcing their intention to recognize the State of Palestine – a practical step toward a two-state solution, and a message that the time has come for real international action to resolve the conflict, stabilize the region, and build a foundation for peace. This wasn't just symbolic – it was a move that restored the human face of the Palestinian cause, which had been on the brink of being dismantled.
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