Few would deny Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas—a designated terrorist organization responsible for heinous attacks on civilians. But what Israel is currently doing in Gaza is not defense. It is devastation. It is not a strategic military campaign. It is a humanitarian disaster. And it is not weakening Hamas—it is entrenching it.

The war in Gaza has now entered a phase that cannot be justified by security imperatives alone. For eight consecutive weeks, Israel has enforced a near-total blockade on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This comes on the heels of months of bombardment that has decimated civilian infrastructure—hospitals, water facilities, schools—and displaced over 1.7 million people. According to the World Health Organization, food prices have surged by over 1,400% since the end of the last ceasefire. Starvation has become a daily reality for countless families. Charity kitchens are overwhelmed. Children wait for hours with empty bowls while convoys of aid are blocked at the border.........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)