Image Source - Al Jazeera
Casualties Increase in Gaza, Lebanon as US-Supported Israeli Air Strikes Continue
As the Israeli campaign of airstrikes throughout Gaza continues, the death toll rose to 143 on Tuesday, with 132 of them concentrated in the northern section of the blockaded enclave, according to medical sources. At least 15 people—mostly women and children—were killed in the villages of Sarafand and Haret Saida near Sidon in southern Lebanon, where Israeli attacks have also stepped up. Lebanese officials said on Wednesday that over 77 people have died throughout the country from airstrikes that occurred on Tuesday, marking the intensification of violence in the region.
Gaza and Lebanon Death Toll Continues Rising
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and Lebanon Reaches 'Shocking Levels'. More than 43,000 have died, and 101,223 have been wounded in Gaza since Israeli air and ground forces launched an offensive on October 7. Casualties keep climbing in Lebanon: at least 2,787 dead and 12,772 reported injured. Yet the US provides them with financial and military support, a move that drew sharp scrutiny since US officials also called for "restraint" and "concern" over rising civilian casualties.
Disclaimer - Translated using google images
The Violence Spreads Through West Bank
As these attacks mounted, violence spread throughout the occupied West Bank, where Israel settlers have recently chopped and uprooted dozens of Palestinian olive trees that lie around Qaryut village near Nablus, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. Anti-settlement activist Bashar al-Qaryuti reported destruction to trees near the illegal Israeli settlement of Eli. This is a single incident amidst a far larger trend. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission stated, "within one year at least 14,280 Palestinian trees have suffered destruction".The United Nations counts that since the 7th of October, 730 Palestinians have lost their lives to date; violence has emanated in equal measure on behalf of Israeli forces, and among settlers.
Image Source - Al Jazeera
Palestinian Envoy to the UN Demands Action Amid Ongoing "Genocide"
On May 22nd, an impassioned Palestine UN Envoy, Riyad Mansour, addressed the United Nations Security Council while calling for this body to take action so as to bring salvation to Palestinian civilians from "genocide." He elaborated, saying that there are currently over 100,000 Palestinian civilians who are maimed, where most face permanent injuries; two million displaced people cannot live and breathe under those unbearable living conditions. Mansour castigated the apathy of the international community when he proclaimed to the Security Council,"Israel has crossed every red line, broken every rule, defied every prohibition," and addressed the Council to "reach every single one who is in pain among the Palestinians. That is your duty.
US Support to Israel: A Hypocrisy Exposed
With full-scale violence raging, Washington continued to pour in both money and arms for the State of Israel. Critics argue this is hypocritical because US leaders bemoan the fact that civilians are being killed and yet support the policies responsible for these killings. Calls to restrain are ignored with no US effort to cut back military supply or reevaluate its mission in the conflict. Others continue to question the duplicity of the US policy: a country funding an offense to be against peace and human rights?
International Calls for Accountability
The international community, along with several humanitarian agencies, condemned the lack of responsibility for this increasing civilian loss of life. In July, the International Court of Justice demanded Israel to end the occupation of the Palestinian areas, demolish its colonies, and compensate the victims. Still, as the situation becomes more unbearable in Gaza and Lebanon, the actions by Israel—and the unapologetic US support towards them—have received great criticism since critics say such uncontrolled military aid will be regarded as a straight endorsement of violence rather than diplomacy.
Image Source - Al Jazeera
The path forward is the question: Accountability or Complicity?
As Mansour himself has noted, the UN and world powers must now decide between ending impunity and bringing accountability to the situation or continuing to support a conflict that has displaced, maimed, and killed hundreds of thousands. His words are very resonant for those who call for real action from the international community, demanding that global powers put actions behind their words for peace, and question whether the US will recognize the moral implications of its ongoing support.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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