As the horrific horrors of the genocide in Gaza continues with Food now being used as a weapon by the Israeli State against the civilian population, more evidence is emerging of babies being starved to death by this policy.

It’s difficult to write about these war crimes because to us here in Orkney it’s just so incomprehensible that the State of Israel can perpetrate these acts of outright evil whilst our leaders in Orkney at School Place remain silent.

The Security Council of the United Nations met on 22nd March on the topic of “Middle East, including the question of Palestine” .  Before the Council was a draft resolution put forward by the USA on the imperative of a ceasefire in Gaza, which was not adopted owing to the use of the negative vote by two permanent members, Russia and China. Security Council: US-proposed Draft to End War in Gaza Vetoed | Full Meeting | United Nations

Readers might recall that the UK, USA and other western countries withdrew much needed funding to the relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, after allegations were made by Israel that some of their staff had been involved in the October 7th attacks.

A review of these allegations led by Catherine Colonna, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, working with three research organizations: the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway and the Danish Institute for Human Rights, has made its interim report.

It has found that UNRWA has in place a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the Humanitarian Principle of neutrality, and the group has also identified critical areas that still need to be addressed. The review group will now develop concrete and realistic recommendations on how to address these critical areas to strengthen and improve UNRWA.

The group will present the final report on the 20 April and that report will be made public.

On Thursday, 21st March, the UN’s top aid official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jamie McGoldrick, reached Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia. “Shocking levels of disease and hunger” were reported by the team after visiting the overwhelmed hospital.

The hospital is treating children with the most severe and life-threatening hunger at a new World Health Organization (WHO)-supported specialised feeding facility.

A trickle of aid managed to get through to Kamal Adwan hospital, which included fuel and medical supplies.

Al Shifa – Gaza’s largest health centre – has suffered sustained Israeli military attacks day on day putting patients, medical teams and treatment in jeopardy.

To reach the north from the south, aid teams have to pass through Israeli military checkpoints that cut the Strip in two.

Georgios Petropoulos, , OCHA Head of Sub-Office in Gaza, explained:

“One of the biggest problems we have in Gaza is the inability to get between north and south Gaza. ” He described how on a recent mission they found a 75 to 80-year-old man alone and “covered with dust”, sitting down in the road.

“We picked him up, we gave him some water, we put him in the back of our car and just drove him a few hundred metres up the road until we found a family of people that were on the street.”

“We’re calling on everyone to respect civilians trying to flee war,” Mr. Petropoulos said. “With hostilities now in their sixth month – and Gaza moving ever closer to famine – we must flood Gaza with aid.”

Despite a complete lack of support from Orkney Islands councillors, islanders in Orkney continue to stand in vigil every Saturday on the steps of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall between 1 and 2pm – as they have done for 6 months now.

The islanders include community councillors; trade unionists – especially UNISON members, Orkney’s largest trade union; members of different political parties; those of different religions, and none; Amnesty Orkney; Orkney Friends of Palestine; Peace campaigners; and ordinary folk appalled at the slaughter of innocent civilians, including children and babies.

People who cannot make the vigils, because they have other commitments or live in the outer isles, have asked what they can do to support the people of Gaza, and Palestinians elsewhere.

Hope and Play is a UK-based charity with Palestinian staff in Gaza who provide services for children. This has included art activities and also psycho-social therapy for severely traumatised children.

Despite all the problems created by the Israeli offensive, Hope and Play have been able to send cash assistance to core team members at the Canaan Institute whose homes have been destroyed and are sheltering in makeshift camps, on open ground or in churches so they can feed themselves and their families.

They are also exploring ways of channelling emergency cash via Issa and other partners to families sheltering nearby.

Amazingly, Hope and Play are still launching arts and crafts activities for children.  Their first location is in one of the makeshift camps in Rafah, working with an artist who has himself been displaced from Gaza city.

You can also sign a petition. This one is from Oxfam: GAZA ISRAEL CONFLICT: CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW

• Secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire now.
• Call for an end to the blockade that is preventing civilians in Gaza from accessing food, fuel and water.
• Call for the protection of all civilians, including the unconditional release of all hostages.
• Call for a path to a lasting and just peace for all Palestinian and Israeli people.

Last weekend Mike Robertson again filmed the Orkney vigil which you can view here:

Fiona Grahame