The unending Israeli aggression has brought more sufferings to the people of Gaza as they remain trapped in a vicious circle of war, eviction, and hunger. The Palestinians continue facing bombings, ground invasions, and, most recently, an embargo, and nobody seems to come forward and do something about it.

Since October 2023, continued airstrikes and ground assaults have led to great devastation, resulting in over 41,000 deaths, including thousands of children, with more than 92,000 people injured. This has, therefore, led to questioning of the tactics used by Israel as well as the unethical standards, which are tantamount to war crimes, for military operations targeting civilian structures such as homes, schools, and hospitals. Such losses in the Gaza Strip are the chief characteristics of a plan that punishes an entire population for the actions of a few from certain militant groups.

Continued airstrikes and ground assaults have led to great devastation, resulting in over 41,000 deaths, including thousands of children.

Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and has been transformed into an open prison for more than two million people. The conditions have only worsened over time, since every new fighting phase, deteriorates the already weak structures.

Due to the current challenges, the healthcare system in Gaza has almost collapsed. Many of the hospitals have destroyed and the few remaining ones are overstretched for resources. At the same time, many doctors and other healthcare professionals have been purposely attacked or killed, thus causing a long-term damage to the infrastructure. In fact, the loss of doctors and other staff can be listed as even more severe than the destruction of physical infrastructure.

According to the Gaza health officials, at least 700 medical experts have so far been killed, including key doctors. That’s why a healthcare worker said, “We can fix our hospitals, but who will step up to replace the doctors we’ve lost.”

Healthcare system in Gaza has almost collapsed. Many of the hospitals have destroyed and the few remaining ones are overstretched for resources.

These individuals had acquired knowledge with many years of training and were committed to saving others. Their loss is incalculable.

In this connection, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strenuously criticized these actions, stating, “Attacking healthcare professionals is a war crime.”

Essential to saving lives during and after the conflict, these healthcare professionals are the target of a direct attack on the civilians in Gaza. Israel claims the use of force is needed to protect its people from the rocket attacks by Hamas and other militants, but the fact is that it not only has vastly superior firepower but also a variety of other resources. The Iron Dome of Israel is effective in downing most of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, thus limiting the loss of life and property among Israelis. On the other hand, the people of Gaza have no such protection against airstrikes.

The loss of lives and properties in Gaza is massive, that’s why it is being listed a genocide which has raised a lot of concerns over Israel’s “right to defend” and whether their actions are justified. Thus, the myth of self-defense is designed to justify the occupation and displacement, the reason behind the Palestinian resistance.

To Palestinians, it is not about rockets or armed conflict, it is about the decades of occupation, the seizure of their homes and territory, and the refusal to accept their rights as a people. During the events leading to and after the formation of Israel in 1948, the Palestinians have been subjected to the process of ethnic cleansing. They have been forced into confinement after losing more and more of lands and homes – from the expansion of settlements in the West Bank to the siege of Gaza.

The myth of self-defense is designed to justify hide the occupation and displacement, the reason behind the Palestinian resistance.

The Palestinians, not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank, are living in violence, poverty, and despair, with no hope of the world recognizing their rights as a nation. Each time bombs are dropped, they kill the hopes of a family, reduce the number of homes, and make the future darker.

At the same time, children in Gaza do not know anything besides war and suffering and their dreams of a better life have become pipe dreams. In fact, the real cost of the conflict is not shared equally by the two parties. Though Israel might be experiencing rocket attacks and security issues, it enjoys all the requisite resources, be it in the form of technology or most importantly international support to provide it with a protective buffer from the worst of the conflict.

The struggle in Gaza and Israel is not the only battle; its effects are starting to spread to the entire region. There have been recent airstrikes from Israel across Lebanon, which resulted in the deadliest day for the country. These attacks aimed at Hezbollah in Lebanon has left at least 600 people dead.

António Guterres has told the world leaders, “This is a time for the world to come together in demanding an end to this foolish violence. A more extensive war will damage the region seriously and may have untold impacts around the world”. The international community now cannot ignore the extensive threats posed by this conflict. In case of any failure to arrest the trend, this war has the potential to threaten nearby states, motivating actions that might threaten global peace. The escalating tensions mean that the international community must institute powerful actions to block this bloodshed from going any further.

Both diplomatic announcements and symbolic resolutions have long past their due date. Resolving this issue is critical, which means there must be an immediate end to the fighting and an assurance that humanitarian help reaches those critically in need. Without a strong intervention, the conflict can escalate dangerously, causing serious harm to the people in Gaza and throughout the Middle East.