Children of Gaza feel ‘death is imminent’

Warning: this story contains distressing details and images of genocide.

“96 per cent of children feel death is imminent.”

This is one of the primary findings of a recent report issued by War Child UK regarding the catastrophic situation for Palestinians in Gaza. In the wake of Israel’s unprecedented bombing campaign and implementation of the “generals’ plan,” which envisions the northern region of the Gaza strip being ethnically cleansed through siege and starvation of the remaining population, the War Child report also concludes that “49% of children wish to die because of the war.”

In a statement issued on Friday, the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urged Israel to comply with international law and called attention to “the unprecedented levels of starvation in Gaza, where over 1.2 million people are facing emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity […].” The statement also lamented “the killing of at least 343 aid workers, including 253 staff of the United Nations, 1,047 health workers, 88 civil defence staff while on duty, and 183 journalists and media workers […].”

During the UN General Assembly on December 5, 158 countries (including Canada) voted in favour of a resolution demanding “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire,” and which “further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

Both the United States and Israel voted against this resolution, standing against the majority of humanity.

For its part, Canada continues to hold irreconcilable positions on Palestine. The Canadian government has demonstrated clearly that it places expansionist Israeli priorities above any consideration for the human rights of Palestinians. It has refused to condemn Israel for its genocidal actions despite mountains of evidence, presented to the International Court of Justice by South Africa and posted across social media by Israeli soldiers themselves.

Canadian officials have continued to remain ignorant of their own stated policy which “does not does not recognize permanent Israeli control over territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip).” Israeli occupation forces have spent months engaged in the demolition of Palestinian homes in order to construct more military infrastructure in central Gaza.

Having failed to eliminate Hamas, or push Hezbollah back beyond the Litani River in the south of Lebanon, the Israeli occupation forces have pounced on the opportunity provided by the collapse of the Syrian central government and military to further annex the Golan Heights including Mt. Hermon, which overlooks the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Over the span of a few days, hundreds of Israeli strikes destroyed or damaged the bulk of the Syrian military infrastructure, including ground-based air defence units and aircraft. The naval port at Latakia was also struck, with many of the patrol vessels being destroyed or disabled. Any future government in Damascus will now have no means to reliably protect the country’s borders from future incursions or occupation.

All of these shocking events, and Canada’s non-response to Israeli aggression, showcase that the current government is one of profound hypocrisy. In a cynical statement issued on December 10, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly claimed that “the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

It is impossible to read this statement without adding an invisible asterisk in one’s mind, which represents the absence of thought for Palestinians as deserving of such considerations.

The statement also notes that “Canada strives to […] empower women and girls, and eradicate poverty through our feminist foreign and international assistance policies.”

This would stand in stark contrast to the findings of the War Child UK report, which highlights that “[…] Gaza is one of the most horrifying places in the world to be a child.” The near-total destruction of any self-sufficiency in the economy of Gaza has meant that “most families live on just [$180] a month / [$5.89] per day, grappling with soaring prices for food and essentials due to the ongoing blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid.”

Minister Joly’s statement seeks to appease its critics by calling attention to Canada’s donation of $88.2 million to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, which is largely financed by Israel’s Western allies. Such funds grant these rich donor countries the self-perception of benevolent charity, while the official line of continued support for Israel ensures that those who suffer from its genocidal policies will never be free of the obvious consequences.

Palestine now stands on the precipice of another demographic calamity engineered by an Israeli regime intent on its complete destruction. As War Child UK Helen Pattinson has said, “[t]he international community must act now before the child mental health catastrophe we are witnessing embeds itself into multi-generational trauma, the consequences of which the region will be dealing with for decades to come.”

While any potential ceasefire receiving the backing of incoming US President Donald Trump will be practically impossible to implement given Israel’s violent actions toward any United Nations presence, and the unwavering protection given by the United States veto in the UN Security Council, it remains up to Palestinians to continue their resistance, and to their allies across the globe to pressure their governments to adopt policies which can bring Israel to justice for its unrepentant campaigns of violence and contempt for human life.

Ryan Hillier is a writer and settler living on the banks of the Petkootkweăk.