On Tuesday 23 September, the president of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned of the worsening humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, confirming that thousands of orphaned children are wandering among the ruins of destroyed homes. The tragic conditions have driven some of them to eat sand and drink contaminated water due to Israel’s blockade and lack of basic necessities.

Annalena Baerbock: UN failing Gaza’s orphaned children

Referring to the international community’s failure to stop the tragedy, during her speech, Baerbock asked:

When civilians are killed in Gaza, is it international humanitarian law at fault, for failing to protect them?

Her warning comes many months after the Israeli occupation resumed its air strikes on Gaza on 18 March. This was in a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on 19 January, lasting for nearly two months. The raid violating the agreement resulted in more than 400 martyrs and 500 wounded in a few hours. Most of them women and children, bringing scenes of destruction and mass killing back to the forefront.

The first phase of the ceasefire ended in early March after 42 days. It saw the implementation of a prisoner exchange deal in several stages between Palestinian resistance factions and Israel. This was along with a limited withdrawal of Israeli forces that allowed thousands of displaced people to return to their destroyed homes. However, these understandings quickly collapsed with the renewal of aggression and the absence of any real commitment on the part of the occupation.

Calls for the international community to hold Israel to account

UN data indicates that Gaza’s population of approximately 2.3 million is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern times. Most are suffering from severe shortages of food and drinking water and a collapsed health system. Children are experiencing psychological distress due to the ongoing war and the loss of their loved ones.

The ongoing tragedy in Gaza is putting international humanitarian law to the test. Baerbock’s delivered her speech amid growing calls for the international community to intervene decisively to stop the aggression and hold those responsible for crimes against civilians accountable, given the continuing blockade and the absence of any prospect of a political solution that would protect lives and stop the bloodshed.

Feature image via screengrab.

By Alaa Shamali

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