#BTEditorial – US credibility on the line over Gaza war

There is a popular saying that while the grass is growing the horse is starving. This is an appropriate reflection as one considers the atrocities and absolute suffering taking place in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

Hamas’ killing of 1200 Israelis and the kidnapping of almost 200 on that day is condemnable and has been slammed around the world. Equally condemnable is the continued killing spree occurring in Gaza and the abhorrent suffering imposed on civilians whose only crime was being born on a strip of disputed land, which, for all intents and purposes, is controlled by Israel.

The leadership of countries such as the United States of America and Britain have been using placating rhetoric about the “unfortunate loss of civilian lives” but “Israel has a right to defend itself”.

Also among what could be easily described as empty rhetoric is the call for a two-state solution. Frankly, there has been less than enthusiastic support and investment in the creation of two independent states which would represent the closest route to viable peace.

Less than 24 hours ago, Barbados joined almost 100 countries around the world, including many Caribbean Community nations, co-sponsoring a resolution at the powerful United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The resolution was brought by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, as many expected, the United States used its veto power to kill the resolution. Interestingly, many strident American allies such as France, Switzerland, and Japan joined China and Russia voting in favour of the resolution, while Britain abstained.

The time has come for the US to reconcile its position regarding the killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians by Israel as they did to protect and defend civilians in Ukraine.

How can it expect to maintain its credibility while condoning the continued fighting in Gaza and the reported deaths of nearly 17 000 Palestinians as Israel seeks to destroy Hamas?

How many Palestinians must die before Israel declares that Hamas has been destroyed? Those who have not died as a result of the bombs are surely expected to die a slow death through starvation.

With no power, limited access to water, a destroyed sewage system and very little food, more Palestinians will easily perish from disease.

On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99, which has not been used in decades. Article 99 is a provision in the UN Charter in which the UN Secretary-General can bring to the attention of the Security Council “any matter which, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.

With UN workers killed, health care facilities destroyed, the Secretary General, with good reason, believes the situation in Gaza was in “complete collapse”.

What happened to the Israeli citizens last October was wrong. There is no denying it, however, the continued killing of Palestinian civilians is equally wrong and both matters can be condemned without being accused of supporting Hamas.

If the USA and Israel seek to have the rest of the world line up behind them on the ongoing action in the Gaza Strip, it has to act more decisively on protecting the lives of civilians.

It cannot be acceptable to tell people to leave what little they have to move to another part of the Gaza Strip where there is no guarantee of food, water, or shelter.

Project HOPE, a non-governmental organisation that has been providing health to vulnerable communities around the world earlier this week described how dire the situation has become.

“Across Gaza, people continue to be displaced time and time again. People are losing hope of survival as the bombardment has intensified. Beyond the immediate threat of violence, harsh living conditions have given rise to a health catastrophe, with an alarming rise in infectious diseases, respiratory issues, skin infections, lice, and diarrhea.”

There is little that we in Barbados can do to stop the violence except to add our voices to the ongoing call for peace. We cannot afford to be silent.