Sir, – The sound of silence from the international community on Israel’s latest atrocities in Gaza is deafening. Against the already monstrous backdrop of widespread hunger, mass displacement and over 50,000 people killed in Gaza, these past few weeks alone we have witnessed scenes that should shake anyone to their core.
Since Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza just over two weeks ago, more than 300 children have been killed, according to the UN’s children’s agency. It’s also just over a month since Israel cut off all goods and supplies from entering Gaza, halting the flow of food, medicines, fuel and shelter materials that people desperately need.
The bodies of 15 paramedics working for the Palestinian Red Crescent and civil defence rescue workers were recently uncovered from a shallow grave (“Palestinian paramedics shot by Israeli forces had hands tied, eyewitnesses say”, World, April 2nd). Buried with complete indignity, it was reported that the hands or legs of some of the bodies were bound and there were gunshot wounds to their chests and heads, distressing scenes that could amount to a war crime.
Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza show how impunity breeds further atrocities. How the events of the last few weeks, let alone the past 18 months, has not spurred governments worldwide to take meaningful action to hold Israel to account for its actions in Gaza, and indeed the occupied Palestinian territory more broadly, is hard to countenance.
At what point will the horror cut through to the international community? A step-change is urgently needed. It is long past time that the international community moves from words to action, but we must keep the pressure up. The lives of the Palestinian people depend on it. – Yours, etc,
ROSAMOND BENNETT,
Chief Executive,
Christian Aid Ireland,
Dublin 2.
