The video of a Palestinian child in Gaza trying hard to scratch the last bit of food from the pot into his container is a heartbreaking reminder of the humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding in the besieged territory for years. The child is one of the millions of Palestinians who live under a brutal Israeli blockade, which restricts the movement of people and goods, and deprives them of basic necessities such as food, water, electricity, and health care.
The situation in Gaza has worsened since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a massive military offensive against the Hamas-run enclave, claiming to target rocket launchers and tunnels used by the militant group. The Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, including at least 3,600 children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Thousands more are missing under the rubble, most of them presumed dead. The surviving children, who have endured the traumatic impact of multiple wars, have spent their lives under the shadow of an Israeli blockade, influencing every aspect of their existence from birth.
The war in Gaza has also opened scars for Palestinians in Lebanon, who live in overcrowded and impoverished refugee camps, and have been firming up their support for Hamas. The camp and dozens of others in the region were established a few months after the 1948 war that led to the creation of the state of Israel. Today Shatila is also home to people from Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Bangladesh and other countries who can’t go home or can’t afford to live anywhere else.
The international community has largely failed to intervene and stop the bloodshed in Gaza, or to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and end the occupation of Palestinian lands. The United States, Israel’s main ally, has repeatedly vetoed UN resolutions condemning Israel’s actions, and has continued to provide military and diplomatic support to the Jewish state. The Arab countries, which have historically backed the Palestinian cause, have also been silent or complicit in the face of Israel’s aggression, as some of them have normalized their relations with Israel in recent years.
The Palestinian children in Gaza deserve to live in dignity, peace, and freedom, like any other children in the world. They do not deserve to die in their homes, schools, hospitals, or streets, or to suffer from hunger, disease, and trauma. They do not deserve to be forgotten or ignored by the world, or to be reduced to statistics and stereotypes. They deserve to have their names, stories, and dreams known and respected. They deserve to have a future.