Being Born In Gaza Is A Crime
Scene I: Boiling tea was accidentally spilled on the feet of a female Cybersecurity Engineering student. Unfortunately, the necessary medical services were not available for nursing. Now, she needs to undergo a cosmetic surgery. However, the student has no idea where the surgery would be performed and who would pay for it.
Scene II: Gaza’s economy has been destroyed as there are no jobs or banking services. Meanwhile, food prices are skyrocketing. Although people from abroad are sending money to their near and dear ones living in the Gaza Strip, no one can withdraw the money from banks. Local brokers have started demanding a huge amount for helping the Gazans to withdraw money from their accounts.
Scene III: A young lady, along with her family members, had to leave her residence and take shelter in a relief camp to save themselves. The family recently got an opportunity to return to their home. They walked about 10km through the ruined city to reach home. Although all the members of the family have managed to survive, a portion of their residence has been completely destroyed. The lady is unable to get meals twice a day.
Aya Zaid, the Cybersecurity Engineering student, planned to start earning after completing her studies. However, her dreams remain unfulfilled because of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. She has failed to complete her studies. Zaid, a resident of Jabalia, has claimed that the condition of Rafah and Jabalia is the worst. “Wherever you look, there is only destruction. Not a single house is intact. There is no law and order in these areas,” she told the press.
The Israeli armed forces have destroyed almost all the hospitals in the Gaza Strip. Hence, health services have virtually collapsed. According to Zaid, there is a shortage of emergency medicines, as well as painkillers. Hence, injured people have no choice, but to suffer. Often, doctors perform surgeries without anaesthesia. Israel has long accused the Palestinian Hamas Movement of using hospitals in the Gaza Strip as safe havens for the terrorists. However, Zaid has rejected the allegation, stating: “Hospitals have always been used to treat patients. Of course, common people take shelter in hospitals during bombings. Without any evidence, Israel has made a false claim that Hamas constructed tunnels under the hospitals. It is just Israeli propaganda.“
Several relief camps have been set up in different parts of the Gaza Strip amid the Israel-Hamas War. The situation of the families staying there is the worst. Several families are using a single toilet in those camps. Hence, there is no room for privacy. Life in the relief camps is getting worse mainly because of lack of adequate water and sanitation facilities. According to Zaid, women are particularly facing difficulties. Many have contracted various infections and are suffering from health-related issues.
Zaid has further claimed that Israel has refused to allow humanitarian aid and necessities that are essential for survival, like food, medicines, soaps and shampoo, into the Gaza Strip. She told the media: “We are currently completely dependent on canned food and flour. Sometimes, those are not available either. Food is being wasted as trucks are stuck at checkpoints for a longer period of time. And here, we are eagerly waiting for food and water.” Some people have also started looting food and other items in such a situation. “There is no such thing as law and order. Members of some powerful families behave like mafias. They are roaming around with arms and committing crimes openly,” stressed Zaid.
Earlier, Hamas claimed that children were being systematically killed in the Gaza Strip by the Israelis. Zaid, too, has admitted that the Israeli forces are targeting the children and journalists, stating: “Israelis do not want journalists to tell the truth about what is happening in Gaza to the world. So, they are eliminating media persons.“
Commenting on the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, Zaid has said: “Indeed, it was a bloody chapter. However, the incident did not trigger the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Rather, it was a retaliation for decades of oppression of the Palestinian people. One should keep in mind that whatever happens between the two countries, the citizens of both sides would have to pay the price.” Perhaps, this is why Shani Louk, the 23-year-old German-Israeli tattoo artist, had to pay the price as the Hamas fighters paraded her naked body through the streets of Gaza in the back of a pickup truck. Meanwhile, Zaid has stated: “These statements are not true. Instead, these are lies spread to tarnish the image of the Palestinian resistance. None of these claims have been proven. We do not support violence against innocent people.“
When the Israel-Hamas War began, it was thought that neighbouring Islamic nations (or the Arab World) would shelter the Palestinian refugees. It did not happen. According to Zaid, the majority of the Gazans do not want to leave their land. “Immigration is not the solution. Despite suffering and displacement, returning to our homeland is our ultimate goal,” she stressed. At the same time, Zaid has urged the global community to stop ignoring the sufferings of Gazans, saying: “We need real support, and not statements from abroad. We want real action to stop the war, and not mere promises.“
Once, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reportedly said: “I met so many of the beautiful children of Gaza. More than 500 were killed during the conflict and many more were wounded. What have they done wrong? Being born in Gaza is not a crime.” Perhaps, the scenario has entirely changed. Today, it seems that being born in Gaza is a crime.
It’s time for the international community to respond to Zaid’s appeal.
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Facebook
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Twitter
Boundless Ocean of Politics on Linkedin
Contact us: kousdas@gmail.com
ISMC
Boundless Ocean Of Politics 