In a heartfelt and urgent press release dated July 11, 2024, Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh of the Embassy of the State of Palestine decries the ongoing violence and suffering faced by the Palestinian people amid Israel's prolonged military aggression. The Ambassador highlights the harrowing reality that has unfolded over 279 days of conflict, emphasizing that Israel, as the occupying power, wields unchecked authority over every aspect of Palestinian life, relegating Palestinians to the status of perpetual victims and criminals.
Citing a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, the Ambassador reveals that the United States is resuming the shipment of 500-pound bombs to Israel, which had been previously suspended by the Biden administration in an attempt to mitigate civilian casualties in Gaza. This move, he asserts, underscores the complicity of the U.S. in what he describes as a war against the Palestinian people.
The grim statistics laid out by Ambassador Abu Shawesh paint a dire picture: as of July 9, the death toll has exceeded 38,193 Palestinian lives, with 87,903 injured. The number of detained Palestinians stands at 9,510, including 325 women and 660 children, along with 7,170 administrative detainees. The situation is further compounded by the enforced disappearances of Gazan detainees held in military camps.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is stark and unrelenting. A staggering 96% of the population faces acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million individuals living in catastrophic conditions. Women, particularly mothers, bear the brunt of this crisis, often prioritizing feeding their families over themselves. Israel’s destruction of water sources and desalination plants has drastically reduced water availability, exacerbating the already dire living conditions. The breakdown of sewage treatment facilities has led to a daily discharge of 130,000 cubic meters of sewage into the streets, creating hazardous conditions for the displaced population.
The press release also highlights the peril faced by aid workers and journalists. To date, 274 aid workers have been killed, and 152 media correspondents have been martyred, with 100 journalists arrested and many still detained. The systematic targeting of media institutions and journalists underscores the severe restrictions on freedom of information and expression.
Despite the colossal damage and ongoing siege, medical supplies remain scarce, and the blockade of Gaza's only crossing has trapped over 12,000 wounded and 14,000 sick individuals, including 10,000 cancer patients, in a life-threatening situation. The deteriorating health conditions among displaced people, particularly the spread of scabies due to poor sanitation and lack of hygiene, signal a looming health crisis.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh calls upon the international community to recognize that counting Palestinian victims is not synonymous with ensuring their safety. Ignoring international law, he warns, will have dire repercussions for all. He concludes with a poignant reminder that inaction in the face of injustice will eventually consume us all, invoking the proverb, "We were devoured the day the white bull was eaten."
Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh's impassioned plea is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for international intervention to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
July 11, 2024
279 days of Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian peopleIsrael, as the occupying Power, monopolizes all roles including victim, investigator, judge, lawyer, and jailer—forcing Palestinians with only one role to play: the role of criminals.Citing The Wall Street Journal, The U.S. will soon begin shipping to Israel the 500-pound bombs that the Biden administration had previously suspended, ending a two-month pause it had imposed in a bid to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza.
Do I reveal a secret when I say that the US is launching a war against the Palestinian people? Of course not.As of Tuesday, July 9, the death toll has surpassed 38,193 Palestinian martyrs, with 87,903 injured. There have been 9,510 Palestinians detained since October 7, including 325 women, 660 children. Additionally, there are 7,170 administrative detainees.
It is important to note that Gazan detainees who are held in military camps and subject to enforced disappearance are not included in these statistics.Nowhere and no one is safe in Gaza, neither the civilians nor humanitarians. 274 aid workers and volunteers have been killed so far, many while they were on duty and others with their families at homes. In Gaza “96% of the population are facing acute food insecurity at crisis level or higher with almost half a million people in catastrophic conditions.
At least 557,000 women in Gaza are facing severe food insecurity and the situation remains concerning for mothers and adult women, who often prioritize feeding others and report greater difficultly in accessing food compared to men.”2 In addition to enforcing famine, Israel is systematically targeting various water sources and desalination plants in Gaza as another genocidal weapon against the 2.3 million civilians there.
The occupation army destroyed 9 out of 10 main water tanks and half of the water networks. This led to a reduction in the per capita share of water in the Gaza Strip from 84.6 liters to between 3 and 15 liters per day. To add insult to injury, all six sewage treatment plants broke down, resulting in a daily discharge of 130,000 cubic meters of sewage being dumped onto roads and between temporary shelters for displaced people.
As of Sunday July 7th the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate announced that 152 media correspondents have been martyred and 100 journalists have been arrested, 52 of them still in detention. Hundreds of Gazans journalist family members killed as a result of the Israeli continuance bombardments. 86 press and media institutions was closed through the Palestinian territories.4Despite the massive destruction, deliberate sabotage, limited medical supplies, and a chronic shortage of doctors and surgeons, Israel has been besieging thousands of sick and wounded Gazans since the beginning of the ongoing massacre.
This siege intensified after May 7, when Israel was able to control the only crossing linking Gaza to the world. As a result, more than 12,000 wounded and 14,000 sick people, including 10,000 suffering from cancer and other serious diseases, are trapped in Gaza and are at risk of death.
This situation has led to a new health crisis looming widely among the displaced people in the plastic shelter camps in Gaza, the scabies disease is rapidly worsening due to the accumulation of waste and sewage water between tents and the lack of personal hygiene items. To the international community: Counting the number of Palestinian victims does not equate to ensuring safety. Ignoring, disregarding, and violating international law will have negative consequences for everyone, whether you realize it or not. It's only a matter of time.
As the proverb goes “We were devoured the day the white bull was eaten”.
Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh
Ambassador of the Embassy of the State of Palestine X – Tweeter: @AM_Shawesh
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