On Monday, 25th of March, the Security Council of the United Nations passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan. The ceasefire has not been observed – the slaughter continues.
The context, facts and analysis presented in this report lead to the conclusion that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met. More broadly, they also indicate that Israel’s actions have been driven by a genocidal logic integral to its settler-colonial project in Palestine, signalling a tragedy foretold.
The Relief Agency UNRWA situation report which covers 26–27th March has said that Israeli Security Forces (ISF) continued military operations across Gaza, particularly in the Al Rimal area of Gaza City near Al Shifa Hospital, and in central Khan Younis. This has resulted in further civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure. Airstrikes and bombardment continued in Rafah where UNRWA estimates a total of 1.2 million people are now living, the vast majority in formal and informal shelters. The total number of UNRWA workers killed since the beginning of hostilities is 171.
“Hunger and malnutrition, driven wholly by manmade causes and by a lack of humanitarian access, have spread through Gaza at frightening speed, causing catastrophic rates of disease, death and despair. For pregnant women and newborns every day has become a fight for survival. “- statement by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Executive Director
New born babies – too weak even to cry – are dying because they weigh too little to survive.
The statement continues:
“Life-threatening obstetric complications and premature births have soared since the outbreak of hostilities. The health system has been decimated: Only three maternity hospitals remain; every functioning medical facility is overwhelmed with patients.
The situation demands urgent action, yet UNFPA and our partners are prevented from reaching many of the women and girls who so desperately need our help. Aid convoys are being denied passage and cannot deliver urgently needed food to the north. I join the Secretary-General in urging Israel to allow for unimpeded and sustained access for humanitarian supplies throughout Gaza.”
Islanders in Orkney will again be showing their support for the people of Gaza by meeting on the steps of St Magnus Cathedral on Saturday from 1 to 2pm. This will be part of a global event #KitesForGaza where kites will be flown to show support. There will also be the opportunity after the Vigil to go to the Peedie Sea area to continue with this demonstration of support.
Up to 1.7 million people (over 75 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, the majority multiple times.
At least 32,470 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October. About 70 per cent of those killed are women and children. Another 74,889 Palestinians have been injured.
“Seventy percent of residential areas have been destroyed. Eighty percent of the whole population has been forcibly displaced. Thousands of families have lost loved ones or have been wiped out. Many could not bury and mourn their relatives, forced instead to leave their bodies decomposing in homes, in the street or under the rubble. Thousands have been detained and systematically subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. The incalculable collective trauma will be experienced for generations to come.” Anatomy of a Genocide – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese (A/HRC/55/73)
The Orkney News will again be out recording the vigil and the #KitesForGaza event in Kirkwall. All the videos are available to view on YouTube. Here is the latest one:
And a selection of images from last weekend.
Fiona Grahame
Categories: Uncategorized
I started to read this – and couldn’t.