Campaigners in Orkney will again be on the steps of St Magnus Cathedral today, Saturday 16th of December from 1 to 2pm in support of an immediate ceasefire in the relentless bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces.

Hostilities in Gaza and Israel have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis.. UN Secretary-General António Guterres 

Last Friday, 8th of December the USA vetoed a resolution at the United Nations Security Council, and the UK abstained, which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as delegates heard the appalling conditions citizens, many of them children , were having to endure.

The deputy head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), confirmed that following a food assessment, around half of all Gazans “are starving”, with no idea where their next meal is coming from

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA said that people in Gaza believe that their lives are “not equal to others’ lives” and that they have the feeling that “human rights, international humanitarian law does not apply to them”.

He highlighted the sense of isolation prevalent in the enclave, stressing that people there “just long for safety and stability”, wishing for a normal life which they are “very far away from right now”.

“What continues to shock me is the ever-increasing level of dehumanisation”, he said, deploring the fact that some can “cheer wrongdoing in this war…What is happening in Gaza should outrage everyone” and make us “rethink our values”, he insisted.

“This is a make or break moment for all of us and our shared humanity.”

And now heavy rain has caused flooding. This combined with the accumulation of waste has produced the conditions for infestations of insects, mosquitoes and rats, further compounding risks of disease spread. The Gaza health authorities said that they had documented 360,000 cases of infectious diseases in shelters and that the actual numbers could be higher.

Kamal Adwan Hospital, in Beit Lahiya north of Gaza City was raided by Israeli troops on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, OCHA said, “with reports of mass arrests and ill-treatment of people who they have detained”. 

According to OCHA five doctors and all the female staff detained the previous day were released from custody but the hospital’s director and some 70 other medical staff “remain detained in an unknown location outside of the hospital”. UN health agency WHO expressed concern about the raid and urged the protection of patients and staff inside the hospital.

According to satellite imagery, some 60 per cent of homes in Gaza have already been damaged or destroyed. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lynn Hastings explained that the intensifying hostilities have pushed almost half of the population of the Strip, or about a million people, into Rafah in the south, compounding the dire health and hunger crisis.  

It’s not just in Gaza, Concern is continuing to grow about the widening implications of the hostilities. In the occupied West Bank, 464 Palestinians have already been killed this year, more than half since 7 October. Some 3,000 have been detained and it was not clear whether they would be charged and given a trial. Settler violence was also on the rise, with an average of five incidents per day up from two per day last year. 

MSPs in The Scottish Parliament backed  an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas after holding a debate on the issue on November 21st. MPs in the UK House of Commons, however on the 15th of November, did not get a majority to vote for an amendment to the Kings Speech which would have supported a ceasefire.

At the UN Security Council vote calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward, who abstained on behalf of the UK Government said that

“The UK continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism as it seeks the return of over 100 hostages who are still held in Gaza. But we are absolutely clear that Israel must be targeted and precise in achieving that goal. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary of the UK have delivered this message, and will continue to do so. Civilians must be protected.”

And she continued:

“Israel’s announcement approving further settlements in the Lower Aqueduct area of East Jerusalem is alarming and serves only to raise the tensions in the West Bank when international effort is focusing on avoiding further conflict. 

“Let me be clear: settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability and delivery of a two-state solution. This decision must be reversed with immediate effect. President, let us work together to deliver peace, dignity, and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Meanwhile the carnage continues.

Fiona Grahame