ALTHOUGH the large-scale Israeli military campaign in Gaza has subsided following more than two years of intense conflict, the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories remains severe. Military operations, air strikes, blockades and periodic armed confrontations continue to affect Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the humanitarian situation remain unprecedented. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, many more have been injured and millions have been displaced since the conflict escalated on 7 October 2023. Large sections of Gaza’s residential areas, hospitals, schools, universities, places of worship and public infrastructure have either been destroyed or severely damaged. Thousands of people are still reported missing, with many believed to remain buried beneath the rubble. The response of the international community has been widely inadequate.

Despite repeated appeals by humanitarian organizations and several member states of the United Nations, the international system has largely failed to halt the violence or ensure meaningful accountability for violations of international humanitarian law. Many observers, legal scholars and international human rights organizations have described the scale of civilian casualties and destruction as raising serious concerns regarding possible war crimes and genocide, matters that continue to be examined by international judicial institutions.

Rather than restraining the conflict, the continued political, military and diplomatic support extended to Israel by several Western governments arguably emboldened Israeli policymakers........

© Pakistan Observer