Israeli blockade of Gaza causing untold famine

After nearly five months of relentless Israeli bombardment, Gaza is still standing as a testament to the horrors of genocidal warfare. [1]

Contents

Children suffering from occupation and oppression Meningitis, hepatitis, scabies, and other diseases on the rise Struggle for survival continues Analysis Also read

With businesses shuttered and banks inoperable, households are continuing to struggle to fulfil basic human needs, rendering hunger the inevitable reality for all.

This cruel ongoing blockade imposed by the Zionist state has crushed Gaza’s capacity to produce its own food, leaving the people reliant upon external supplies.

Reports from the ground show that almost half the population is facing everyday shortages of bread, clean water, and other essentials.

In the absence of proper aid, many are being compelled to rely on scraps they stumble upon, obviously resulting in widespread malnutrition, hunger, and risk of infection.

Children suffering from occupation and oppression

According to a report issued by UNICEF in December, the situation in the Northern Gaza Strip is already severe. [2]

Indeed, nutrition screenings from local health centres have suggested that 15.6 per cent of children are acutely malnourished. [2]

The report — compiled by over fifteen agencies including the World Food Programme (WFP) two months ago — warned of the risk of famine in Gaza. Now, the agency is left with no choice but to halt food aid deliveries until safer conditions are in place.

“At the end of January, after delivering food to the north, we reported on the rapid deterioration of conditions.

“In these past two days, our teams witnessed unprecedented levels of desperation. The latest reports confirm Gaza’s precipitous slide into hunger and disease.

“Food and safe water have become incredibly scarce and diseases are rife, compromising women and children’s nutrition and immunity and resulting in a surge of acute malnutrition. People are already dying from hunger-related causes.” [2]

Meningitis, hepatitis, scabies, and other diseases on the rise

The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure — not just health facilities but all kinds of services — has given birth to a wave of disease.

As we know, medical facilities are currently lying in ruins, leaving the injured and ill wholly without adequate care. [3]

Sewage is freely flowing in the streets, contributing to respiratory illnesses and other associated serious health problems.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates,

“Over 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes, of whom over 1.4 million are staying in overcrowded shelters. These conditions are ripe for a continued rise in infectious diseases.

“In Gaza today, on average, there is only one shower for every 4,500 people and one toilet for every 220.” [4]

In addition, contaminated water has become the only source to drink from, resulting in an increase in bacterial illnesses.

With no access to basic necessities of life, Gaza’s residents are facing a never-ending public health crisis, all whilst the blessed month of Ramadan is just around the corner.

The WHO has observed soaring rates of infectious diseases, with dozens dying from diarrhoea, pneumonia, and measles — all of which are treatable illnesses. [4]

Struggle for survival continues

Amidst all of the rubble and devastation, one thing is clear, Gaza’s residents continue to have hope, as with the aid of Allah, nothing can come in the way of victory.

However, the road to recovery does continue to seem distant at this moment.

As the international community is increasingly waking up to Israeli barbarism, the pressing need for humanitarian aid and intervention in Gaza has never been greater.

The WHO has reiterated its call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire while highlighting the dire situation of the Gazans,

“While a healthy body can more easily fight off these diseases, a wasted and weakened body will struggle. Hunger weakens the body’s defences and opens the door to disease.

“Malnutrition increases the risk of children dying from illnesses like diarrhoea, pneumonia and measles, especially in a setting where they lack access to life-saving health services.

“Even if the child survives, wasting can have life-long impacts as it stunts growth and impairs cognitive development.” [4]

The intergovernmental health organisation further warns,

“Breastfeeding mothers are also at high risk of malnutrition. From 0-6 months of age, a mother’s milk is the best and safest food a baby can get. This protects the child from nutritional deficiencies and catching deadly diseases such as diarrhoea, especially when access to safe drinking water is extremely limited…

“The people of Gaza who have already suffered enough now face death from starvation and diseases that could be easily treated with a functioning health system. This must stop. Food and other aid must flow in far greater amounts.” [4]

Analysis

ANALYSIS

Ustadh Syed Asad Ali

Imam, Neeli Mosque

One cannot help but be moved to tears upon reading about the brutality meted out by the Zionist occupation against the Palestinians.

Allah has sanctified human life and forbidden the unjustified killing of innocent people.

He (subḥānahu wa ta'āla) says in Surat al-Mā'idah,

'We decreed to the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person — unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land — it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life, it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind.'

It is not only bullets and bombs that the Palestinians are killed by; the hunger, disease, and lack of medical provisions all add to their suffering. The Palestinians are intentionally placed under a tight blockade to maximise their suffering.

The question we must ask is: how is this clearly documented massacre taking place in front of the entire world? Has the world become deaf, dumb, and blind?

It appears that as we grow technologically, we lose ourselves morally. It seems, as our cameras improve in megapixels, our hearts are no longer able to see. Although we can FaceTime somebody millions of miles away, we cannot hear the screams of the Palestinian children calling for help day and night.

In a narration reported by Abu Sa'īd al-Khudrī (radiy Allahu ‘anhu), the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

'Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then (let him change it) with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.'