The final point I would like to make is that on 26 January, the International Court of Justice issued provisional measures with respect to the Prevention of Genocide in the Gaza Strip
I want to focus on two measures which, in my opinion, are the pillars of this ruling from a humanitarian perspective.
The first being that the State of Israel shall take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts, in particular:
(a) killing members of the group;
(b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Secondly, that the State of Israel should take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
On the first:
In our own facilities we see the indiscriminate nature of the bombing. The men, women and children with horrific wounds in Rafah Indonesian field hospital, and Al-Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area.
The little boy whose leg was burned in the school where he was sheltering.
The siege of the north of Gaza with the overflowing morgue of Al Aqsa, which at times has received more than 100 bodies a day.
When an emergency room receives more dead patients than injured.
Our psychologist who lost eight members of her family.
The kids drawing pictures of bombs falling on their tents.
The destruction of vital civilian infrastructure and cutting off essential services like water and electricity. This is a collective punishment which is prohibited under international law.
The 32,000 people killed.
The list goes on and on.
All states who are supporting Israel in these circumstances are morally and politically complicit. We call on all states, particularly the United States, the United Kingdom, and allied EU Member States, to do whatever in their power to influence Israel, and to stop supporting the ongoing siege and the continuing attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructures in Gaza.
On the second measure from the ICJ, the image of humanitarian aid is being used as an alibi to perpetuate the brutal and disproportionate way in which this war is being waged.
Much of the narrative around humanitarian assistance has been around counting trucks crossing a border and airdrops. These are simply distractions meant to create an illusion of aid.
Firstly, there are less trucks crossing the border now compared to before 7 October. Before 7 October, there were 500 trucks per day, of which 150 were for food. Between 7 October and 24 February, there have been an average of 90 trucks per day, of which 60 are for food. Crossing points all around Gaza, the south, the middle and the north, must be opened.
It is important to acknowledge that humanitarian assistance is much more than just counting trucks. It is moving supplies around safely. It is security at the point of distribution. It is functioning hospitals which are more than four walls and a roof. They are water, electricity, fuel, and communications. They are trained, qualified staff who have eaten and can work through their mental trauma. It is being able to remain in the health facility long enough to provide continuity of care for complex fractures and infected wounds.
Any aid worker will tell you about the ineffectiveness of air drops. The community leaders from Khan Younis are speaking of being killed by bombs one day and by killed by falling aid from the sky in the next.
The narratives about counting trucks and images of airdrops are not indicators of success. They are an admission of failure.
Humanitarian assistance relies on the safety of aid workers to bring in supplies to distribute food and to treat patients. We have tragically seen nearly 200 killed.
Humanitarian assistance requires for people to be able to access essential services, and yet humanitarians can barely visit the twice besieged north of Gaza. While in the south of Gaza, we have already been forced to evacuate six health facilities, including Nasser hospital – what was the largest hospital in the south of Gaza.
What we are asking for is very simple. Very clear.
The widespread and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, medical staff and health facilities must stop immediately.
Israel must allow unhindered humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
And – above all – there must be an immediate and sustained ceasefire.
I want to conclude by paying tribute to the aid workers in Gaza and all around the world, who with a great deal of self-sacrifice, devote their lives to helping people in need.
Thank you.
Fonte original msf.org
