The most recent episode of mass slaughter against Palestinian people continues into its third month, with over 18,000 people killed, overwhelmingly women and children. Those who are still alive are fighting for their lives.
Some 85% of the Gaza population has been internally displaced. Much of Gaza has been completely leveled to the ground. Over 60% of the housing has been destroyed or severely damaged. Civilian infrastructure is in total ruins. For many, access to clean water is scarce which has forced desperate people to drink salty water from the sea. With the bombings and medieval siege cutting off medical supplies and other aid, the healthcare system is in ruins. There have been numerous documented instances of Israel targeting medical facilities and professionals. Currently, 11 of 36 Gaza’s hospitals are operational. Also at this time, Gaza is getting flooded with torrential rain.
In this context, it should be no surprise that there are reports of rapid increases of respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies and other diseases.
There should be no debate that Israel is carrying out a genocide against the Palestinian people. Simultaneously, the United States government couldn’t make it any more clear that it is more than fine acting as an accomplice, even if it means showing how isolated it is from the rest of humanity.
Horrified by the slaughter, millions of people around the world have demonstrated against this brutality. Those in Israel and the United States who are advocating for a continuation of the carnage are isolating themselves from the peoples of the world, and also more and more from the various governments of the world.
On Friday, December 8th, a vote was brought before the United Nations Security Council calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. Of the 15 countries on the Security Council, one voted against the resolution – the United States, vetoing it.
On Tuesday, December 12th, a similar vote was brought before the United Nations General Assembly. Of the 193 nations with representation within the UN, 153 voted for the resolution, 23 abstained, and 10 voted against it. Of those 10, Israel and the United States, as well as Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay voted against it.
The UN General Assembly vote was entirely symbolic and had no binding power to bring an end to the slaughter. But this vote in the context of massive humanitarian crisis was a barometer of regimes around the world and showed a number of things.
It showed how ruthless the state of Israel is to continue carrying out its genocidal campaign against the people of Palestine. It also showed how desperate the United States is to continue to co-sign Israel’s slaughter, even if it means seriously isolating itself from the rest of the world powers.
For most of us within the United States, it made crystal clear that we have nothing in common with the people who currently rule us and claim to speak for us.
