This Deafening Silence
I begin with an important question. How many of those who heard the appeal for an end to the war in Gaza are aware that the population of that relatively small strip of land on the Mediterranean coast are in real danger of being wiped out? I would suggest, a very small percentage - not because the information is unavailable, but by and large because the vast majority are not interested, or they say, ‘this has nothing to do with me’. Where do we stand?
At the end of the Second World War, the Nazis tried to cover up the fact of the deaths of millions of Jews in their concentration camps. They failed, and the horrendous facts of Auschwitz and other camps was revealed to a shocked world. Now, eighty years after the end of that war, what is happening to the Palestinian people of Gaza has been described as genocide or worse. One major difference is that we can see it happening day after day on our TV screens, if we are prepared to find out*. It should also be remembered that Hamas is not a ‘terrorist organisation’ but a political party elected by the people.
Here are a few facts which can be ratified; if there are those who argue otherwise, the figures are almost sure to be on the higher side as it is not known, for instance, how many are buried under the rubble of the many destroyed buildings which has affected most of the Strip, leaving 80% of homes uninhabitable. It is estimated that over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began; of these around 15,000 have been children and 10,000 women. In addition there have 95,000 serious injuries involving loss of legs, arms and faces; again a large proportion of these have been inflicted on children. In many cases whole families have been killed. It is hard to imagine the effect of this carnage on people, whose lives will never be the same again. Take a moment to reflect on the impact of this onslaught.
Now, after eighteen months of this war, starvation is looming large. Again, it is not accidental. It is estimated by UNWRA** that (mid-April), there is less than a week’s supply of food throughout the Strip. If this is allowed to continue, thousands of Palestinians will die of starvation, not because food and water is unavailable but because it is not being allowed to enter Gaza by the state of Israel. Take a moment to think about the consequences of that situation. This week the last remaining hospital in Gaza was razed to the ground and people still continue to be killed on a daily basis***.
The Old Testament book of Lamentations was written by those who were struggling with famine inside a city under siege. ‘All her people groaned’, says the writer, ‘they begged for bread; they bartered their treasures for food to regain their strength.’ Those words might well have been written of Gaza now. The situation is extremely urgent. Some years ago,a group called the ‘Manic Street Preachers’ wrote a song, which began with the words, ‘..if you tolerate this,then your children will be next’. Not a threat, but a prophecy. Think about it, and let there be no more deafening silences.
* Al Jazera is a TV channel which has excellent daily programmes on the situation in Palestine/Israel.
**UNWRA (The United Nations World Refugee Agency) has worked with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since 1948 in relief,education and community development. .. A number of UNWRA workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began
***The Concern for Palestine/Israel Group, based in Lichfield is campaigning for a just peace. At the moment we are working with other groups in Britain and indeed around the world on the importance of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions and examining peaceful ways through which we can work with others to bring Israel to the negotiating table. If you want to know more about the group and how you might be involved, please contact Chris Herbert (Secretary, (cherbert427@yahoo.co.uk)