THE ISRAELI Defense Force’s Operation Cast Lead lasted three weeks. 1,300 Palestinians have been killed, 5,400 have been injured, and most of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed. But Israel has clearly not met any of its military objectives in the 23 days of endless bombing. The only lives that are being disrupted by the Israeli offensive are those of the innocent men, women and children of Gaza.
Fifteen mosques have been turned to rubble. Homes, schools, entire buildings and United Nations institutions have fallen to the ground as a result of Israeli bombing. Nothing has been spared.
Israel continues to surprise the world by the depth of the immorality of its actions. The Israeli attacks became so reckless that a UN agency was forced to suspend its humanitarian aid operations for a day, until Israel could assure the United Nations that its convoys would not be targeted. This decision came after Israeli troops shelled medical convoys, resulting in the death of one employee and the injuring of two others. The convoys did carry UN flags and the workers had coordinated their activities with the proper Israeli authorities.
White phosphorus munitions, supplied to Israel by the United States, have been used in the Gaza Strip. Although the use of these bombs is not illegal under international law, as some militaries find that the white rays emitted from the missiles are beneficial when used as a smokescreen, their use on a civilian population is forbidden under the 1980 Geneva Conventions (for the severe burns they inflict).
The Palestinians are suffering from a humanitarian crisis as a result of the 18 month blockade that has existed since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. The situation has deteriorated as the borders, controlled by Israel, were closed to humanitarian and economic aid until late December. Palestinians are dying in hospitals because of a lack of sufficient medicines and medical equipment.
On the other side of the border, 14 Israelis have been killed — three civilians as a result of Hamas rocket fire. The rest of the Israeli fatalities are soldiers, killed as a result of Israeli-Hamas clashes.
The UN Security Council Resolution passed on Jan. 8 called for an immediate ceasefire and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s starving population.
Since then, Israel has escalated its attacks and advanced into the urban areas of Gaza.
Hamas remains in the Gaza Strip, with the ability to send rockets over the border. There is no doubt rockets that result in the killing of innocent civilians are crimes against humanity.
Israel has already bombed and re-bombed every centimeter of the Gaza Strip, killing Hamas and non-Hamas alike. It has destroyed tunnels that “Hamas uses for smuggling weapons.” Israel has proven its disrespect for the United Nations and the lives of the Palestinian people, by shelling a UN school where hundreds of Palestinians were taking refuge, killing 40 innocent civilians. It has destroyed any chance the Palestinians have of getting a decent education, as it has brought to the ground both the Ministry of Education and the American International School.
Furthermore, Israel already bombs Gaza 21 hours every day — it “graciously” granted the Palestinian people a three hour period of calm two weeks ago.
Israel has violated international law in its use of white phosphorus bombs. Israel has continued its collective punishment of Gaza, and its neglect of its duties as occupier to the occupied Palestinian people, as designated under the 4th Geneva Conventions.
The Palestinian people have suffered enough. The name of the operation changes every time; the game is the same. The escalation of Israeli attacks will be measured only by the number of innocent children that will die at the hands of Israel’s brutality and by the number of orphans that will be created when Israel’s shelling reaches the innocent mothers and fathers of Gaza. It will be measured in deaths of innocent civilians. It will be measured in the number of men, women, and children who manage to make it out alive but are left without a limb or two. It will be measured in the irreparable psychological damage that the “lucky” survivors will suffer from for the rest of their lives.
Manal Tellawi is a fourth-year studen in the College.
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