August 10th 2024.
The recent comments made by the Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, have caused quite a stir among the international community. Even Australia has joined the chorus of condemnation, denouncing Smotrich's statement that the starvation of Gazans could be "just and moral". This far-right minister made the controversial remark while speaking at a conference in support of Jewish settlements on Monday, claiming that Israel had no choice but to send humanitarian aid into Gaza. He argued that in today's global reality, it is not possible to manage a war by starving two million people, even though it may seem "just and moral" until they return the hostages.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also expressed her disapproval of Smotrich's comment, emphasizing that the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime. She stated that there is no justification for such actions and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to protect innocent civilians and allow aid to flow. This sentiment was echoed by other international leaders, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Egypt, who all condemned the deliberate starvation of civilians as a war crime.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described Smotrich's remarks as "beyond ignominious" and a display of contempt for international law and basic principles of humanity. Britain's new foreign secretary, David Lammy, also denounced the minister's statement, stating that there can be no justification for such remarks. He called on the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn Smotrich's comments.
France's foreign ministry expressed "profound consternation" over the "disgraceful remarks", reiterating that Israel has a responsibility under international humanitarian law to provide aid to Gaza, a blockaded territory where Israel controls all access points. Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Siebert, called the remarks "unacceptable and appalling", stating that it is a fundamental principle of international law and humanity to protect civilians in times of war and provide them with access to food and water. Egypt's foreign ministry also condemned the comments, calling them "shameful statements unacceptable in form and substance" and a violation of international humanitarian law.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has had devastating effects on the people of Gaza, with the majority of the population being displaced and living in squalid conditions. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the leading international authority on hunger crises, has declared Gaza to be at "high risk" of famine. However, efforts to deliver aid to the region have been hindered by Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting, and the breakdown of law and order. While Israel claims to allow unlimited humanitarian aid to enter, aid organizations have stated that it is not being delivered promptly.
The war was sparked by Hamas' attack on Israel in October, resulting in the deaths of about 1200 people and the taking of around 250 hostages. Although most of the hostages were released during a ceasefire in November, about 110 are still being held in Gaza, with Israel believing that a third of them have been killed. The ongoing offensive has caused widespread devastation and has led to the deaths of almost 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The situation in Gaza is dire, and urgent action is needed to protect innocent civilians and provide them with the aid they desperately need.
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