Israel’s strongest possible military, diplomatic, and financial backer, the United States of America, comprises 50 states. Capitals of more than a dozen of these states have populations below 65,000, according to the US census of 2020. Of these, Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, has a population of 8,074, South Dakota’s capital Pierre has 14,091 residents, while Augusta, the capital of Maine, has 18,899 residents.
These three capitals combined have a population of 41,064, which is about 24,000 fewer than the more than 65,000 Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023. According to some estimates, about 70 percent of those killed in relentless and indiscriminate Israeli attacks are women and children. In addition, more than 165,000 people were injured. The number of people killed and injured in the Israeli assaults constitutes about 11 percent of Gaza’s total population of 2.1 million. Even on Wednesday, Israel killed dozens of Palestinians across Gaza amidst Tel Aviv’s full-fledged ground invasion.
Israel launched the ongoing brutal and extremely disproportionate military campaign in Gaza after Hamas killed about 1,200 Israelis in an attack on 7 October 2023. The fatalities also included some foreign nationals.
During its military campaign in Gaza, Israel showed no regard whatsoever for humanity. The Israeli forces appear to be killing people at will, considering the whole population of Gaza their targets. They used advanced weaponry like fighter jets, missiles, and tanks against a population that does not have any military. Residential buildings, hospitals, nurseries, schools, markets, shelters, United Nations centres, mosques, and churches were hit indiscriminately, resulting in the killing and maiming of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and mass displacements.
Even Israelis killed Palestinians in the shelters that were designated safe by themselves. Israel’s attacks on Gaza have wiped out numerous entire families, meaning that every single one of their members was killed. Additionally, thousands of Palestinian families have been left with only one or just two surviving members. Israel has also killed about 250 journalists in the last two years.
There are very few buildings left in Gaza that were not struck by Israeli weapons. In short, Israel has turned the whole Gaza Strip into rubble. Having looked at the images of the destruction in Gaza, it is very difficult to believe that people once lived in these places.
Along with its inhumane military campaign, Israel is doing all it can to harm the Palestinians in other ways. It is depriving the Palestinians of food and medicines by not allowing adequate aid into Gaza to induce a famine. The amount of aid that is allowed in is just the tip of the iceberg. Palestinians cannot even collect the limited aid safely because Israelis are killing Palestinians who are queuing to get food. Israel also blocks access to water, electricity, and fuel, making the lives of Palestinians even more unbearable.
It is extremely difficult to detail quickly the inhumane activities carried out by the Israelis in the last two years in a short period of time. The Gaza residents have experienced and are still experiencing all the elements of medieval barbarity. And this barbarity is happening right under the watch of the world, with the support of those militarily and economically powerful countries that regularly lecture other countries, especially the developing ones like Bangladesh, about the importance of upholding human rights.
It is often said that world civilisation is now at its peak. Well, if it is true, then how, in 2025, are the barbaric activities in Gaza being allowed to take place, letting the Palestinians down so dreadfully? The horrific events in Gaza are exposing the benchmark of the world’s civilisation.
One may be forgiven for feeling that, like Israel, the so-called civilised world does not see the Palestinians as human beings, as nothing is being done to protect the basic human rights of these people who have been victims of immense suffering for decades.
The United Nations has said that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. The UN bodies earlier confirmed that there is famine in Gaza. Other UN agencies and global human rights organisations have, on numerous occasions, voiced concerns about the inhumane treatment Palestinians are receiving from the Israelis. There are also orders from international courts.
Despite all that, nothing seems to be enough to stop Israel because it has unwavering backing from the world’s most powerful country, the US, and others. Recently, some developed countries have started condemning Israel for their actions. But this lip service is not doing any good for the Palestinians. There is an urgent need to do something consequential that will compel Israel to stop its cruelties against the Palestinians. And the sooner, the better.
