The vicious Israeli forces ruthlessly kill more than 800 innocent civilians to date. Calls of the world community to immediately end the unparalleled atrocities being committed by the Israeli forces in Gaza fall on deaf ears. The US President Barak Obama backs Israel’s blatant aggression against the innocent civilians of Gaza, saying ‘Israel has the right to defend itself’.
In the midst of growing international calls for ending brutalities and for bringing about an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the obstinate and emboldened Israeli government continues to follow its hot pursuits and its jets, tanks and artillery continue to incessantly pound the Gaza strip day-in and day-out. Least pushed by the serious concerns expressed by the world community over Israel’s high-handedness and aggressive designs in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lately blamed Hamas for trying to “pile up the bodies” of its own people to generate sympathy.
In an interview with Brian Williams of NBC News, Israeli Premier Netanyahu said that Israel had no choice but to defend itself and said that the Palestinian militants are to be blamed for the mounting civilian casualties. “They are responsible for all the civilian deaths, he emphatically stated”. Israel’s obstinacy has crossed all international norms of decency. The cogent US backing of Israel’s blatant aggression in Gaza, where over 800 innocent people have already become victims of unparalleled brutality, has, in fact, emboldened Israel to continue with its holocaust in Gaza. Some quarters however believe that the US is endeavoring to push for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza. One sincerely hopes and prays it does.
The world community has serious concerns about the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths and also the loss of Israeli lives. To bring an end to the crisis that is deteriorating by the day and devouring hundreds of innocent souls every day, the international community, particularly the Muslim world, must make concerted efforts to bring about an immediate ceasefire between the two warring nations. The Human Rights Council of the United Nations and other international human rights organizations must also join hands with the world nations to bring a quick end to Israel´s above two-week-old offensive in Gaza. If this is not done by them on war-footing and if their efforts fail to see the light of the day, the devastation that has already been caused to Gaza by Israel could acquire catastrophic dimensions.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad