Janice R. Andrews
August 9, 2024 New York, United States – Today, Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Finance Minister, made comments that implied starving Gaza’s two million citizens may be “moral and justified.” The UN strongly condemned these remarks. International organisations and human rights campaigners have widely expressed their shock and disgust over this comment, which was delivered on Monday during a conference held by Israel Hayom.
Spokesman for the UN Human Rights, Jeremy Laurence, expressed his deep dismay at Smotrich’s remarks. Laurence said in a statement that Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was “shocked and appalled” by the claim. Right-wing celebrity Smotrich, who is well-known for his divisive opinions on Palestinians, stated that, in some circumstances, refusing humanitarian help to Gaza may be considered a reasonable tactic. This viewpoint has drawn harsh criticism.
“The high commissioner is shocked and appalled by the words of Minister Smotrich,” Laurence stated. “In his opinion, it may be morally and legally acceptable to let two million Palestinians in Gaza starve to death in order to release captives. He vehemently denounces these statements, which encourage hatred towards defenceless populations. It is a war crime to starve civilians as a tactic in combat.”
The dispute is set against the backdrop of a sharp rise in Gaza’s death toll. Health officials in Gaza report that the number of Palestinians killed by continuous Israeli airstrikes has increased to 39,699. The humanitarian catastrophe in the area, where access to basic commodities is still severely constrained, has been made worse by the bloodshed.
The UN’s denunciation brings to light a more general worry about how political discourse affects humanitarian concerns. Humanitarian norms and international law are frequently violated by actions that injure people, as the international community has often pointed out. The statements made by Smotrich have heightened demands for responsibility and a review of policies that impact the Gaza Strip.
Recent weeks’ worth of photos show the terrible circumstances in Gaza, including destroyed structures, evacuating citizens, and kids battling to get basic supplies. With acute shortages of food and water and massive devastation, the humanitarian situation is still dire. There is an urgent need for international assistance and action as a result of the ongoing violence.
To solve the humanitarian catastrophe and guarantee the safety of civilians, the UN and other human rights organisations are still urging swift action. The international community is still keeping a close eye on events and pushing for compliance with human rights laws and guidelines.
The international reaction to Gaza’s crisis will probably centre on solving the country’s immediate humanitarian needs as well as the more general political problems that are fuelling the conflict. The fact that Smotrich’s comments have been condemned emphasises how crucial it is to preserve humanitarian values and make sure that political language does not excuse deeds that put the lives of innocent people at peril.
