The heavy embargo imposed on Gaza has left millions in a relentless struggle against hunger and despair. Access to food, medicine, and clean water is a fundamental human right, yet families in Gaza are fighting for days to find a piece of bread, patients are dying in front of their loved ones due to the lack of medication, and children are suffering from malnutrition and developmental delays. On one hand, hospitals lie in ruins, children are deprived of education, and on the other, humanitarian aid sits at border crossings, unable to enter. All of this unfolds as a tragedy of humanity recorded in history before the eyes of the modern world.
This is not merely a humanitarian crisis; it is a clear violation of human rights. This collective punishment approach, where civilians pay the price for political conflicts, cannot be legitimized under any circumstance. While international human rights law and the laws of war require the protection of civilians, the situation in Gaza painfully reveals how these principles remain only on paper. Each passing day, people risk their lives to find a sip of clean water, a plate of food, and a dose of medicine, while much of the world remains silent in the face of this reality.
As Rights Defenders, we call on governments, international institutions, and civil society organizations to take a clear stance against the human rights violations in Gaza, to make a strong call for the lifting of the embargo, and to exert pressure to ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. Remaining silent in the face of this suffering means accepting the normalization of collective punishment against innocent civilians. It is crucial to recognize that ensuring access to food, water, and medical care is not a matter of politics, but a moral and legal responsibility towards the universal values of human dignity and life.
References:
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Humanitarian Needs and Response in Gaza.
- Human Rights Watch, Gaza: Israeli Restrictions Entrench Humanitarian Crisis.
- Amnesty International, Israel/OPT: Unlawful Blockade Contributing to Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe.
