Dr Najib Ul Haq<\/p>\n
On October 7, the conflict in Gaza will mark one year since the outbreak of war, during which Israel has been formally convicted by the International Court of Justice for committing genocide.
\nThe Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government in 1917, endorsed the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine, which prompted a significant influx of Jewish immigrants to the region.
\nFollowing World War II, the State of Israel was established in 1948, resulting in a large number of Jewish settlers moving to the newly formed nation. Since then, Israel has acquired land from impoverished Muslim communities and has utilized its military power to expand its territory under various justifications.
\nThe U.S.-Israel alliance has complete disregard for human rights, UN General Assembly resolutions, and moral principles.
\nIsrael\u2019s open declaration of targeting children, women, and non-combatants reflects a troubling shift toward a \u201cmight makes right\u201d mentality on the global stage.
\nThis situation underscores a serious concern for the rule of law and humanity in coming days. The figures so far available are alarming for every human being including the following:
\nMore than 51,615 lives have been lost, including approximately 17,000 children and 11,500 women. Thousands of bodies remain trapped under rubble, while around 96,210 individuals have been wounded, with 69% being children and women. Additionally, 174 journalists have been killed.
\nMany children have succumbed to starvation, and over 2 million Palestinians have been displaced multiple times within the Gaza Strip, as all routes to the outside world are blocked. To date, 130 mass graves have been discovered. An estimated 9,500 prisoners in Israeli jails are enduring inhumane treatment and torture.
\nThe extent of infrastructure damage is staggering. Nearly 80pc of buildings in Gaza are either completely or partially destroyed, rendering them uninhabitable.
\nMore than 90 schools and universities have been damaged, and an estimated 516,000 residential units have been either fully or partially destroyed.
\nThe war has resulted in damage to or the destruction of nearly two-thirds of homes in Gaza, alongside a devastating impact on 84% of health facilities.
\nThis destruction stems from over 45,000 missiles and bombs dropped by Israel, totaling approximately 85,000 tons of explosives\u2014more than six times the amount used in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
\nThe destruction has resulted in an estimated 26 million tons of debris and rubble. Assessments indicate that the damage is at least $18.5 billion, as reported by the Arab Center for Washington DC. The report also notes that of the 45,000 bombs dropped on Gaza, approximately 9% to 14% are unexploded. In early May 2024, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimated that it would take at least 14 years to clear Gaza of explosive remnants of war.
\nAdditionally, a Reuters report on May 2 highlighted that rebuilding Gaza\u2019s shattered homes could take until at least 2040, with the possibility of the process extending for many decades, as mentioned in the UN report.However, while addressing the U.S. Congress on July 25, 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, \u201cThe day after we defeat Hamas, a new Gaza can emerge. My vision for that day is of a demilitarized and deradicalized Gaza. Israel does not seek to resettle Gaza.\u201d
\nThe Gaza Strip has become a \u201ctesting laboratory\u201d for ammunition suppliers and manufacturers. Between 2013 and 2023, the estimated volume of major arms transferred to Israel was, the United States accounted for 65.6%, Germany 29.7%, and Italy 4.7%, with 10 other countries supplying the remainder. (Source: SIPR)
\nAs of June 28, the Biden administration has sent a significant amount of munitions to Israel since October of last year, including at least 14,000 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 – 500-pound bombs, 3,000- Hellfire precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, and 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs, among other munitions (reported by Reuters).
\nThe major types of bombs used include:Dumb bombs: Unguided, free-fall bombs that can cause destruction wherever they land. CNN reported that nearly 50% of the munitions used by Israel in Gaza have been \u201cdumb bombs,\u201d according to research from the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Bunker buster bombs -designed to penetrate hardened structures before detonating, these bombs typically weigh over 900 kg (2,000 lbs) and JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) that are precision-guided munitions using GPS for targeting and can also cause secondary strikes shortly after the initial explosion, potentially harming rescue workers and civilians rushing to assist the wounded.Additionally, there are claims that colorless white phosphorus has been used as a chemical weapon, which is restricted under international humanitarian law.(Source: www. aljazeera.com\/new\/2023\/12\/29\/beyond)
\nIf the conflict in Gaza escalates into a global war, the world could be on the brink of catastrophic destruction. It is essential for responsible world powers to reconsider the framework of international relations based on humanity, justice, and morality. New principles of engagement in warfare need to be established.
\nWhile issues like economic imbalance, poverty, and environmental concerns are crucial, the immediate priority must be to safeguard human life and the humanity. The world nations cannot afford to be ruled by those who behave like beasts in human form. Nations must act decisively now; if they fail to do so, a future dominated by the law of the jungle may become inevitable, threatening the very fabric of humanity.
\nWhile issues such as economic imbalance, poverty, and environmental concerns are undeniably important, the immediate priority must be to safeguard human life and uphold our shared humanity. The world cannot afford to be governed by those who act like beasts in human form. Nations must act decisively now; failure to do so could lead to a future dominated by the law of the jungle, threatening the very fabric of humanity itself. It\u2019s time to act\u2014now or never. The urgency of the moment demands our collective commitment to change.<\/p>\n
The writer is a retired professor of Medicine Khyber Medical College, Peshawar<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dr Najib Ul Haq On October 7, the conflict in Gaza will mark one year since the outbreak of war, during which Israel has been formally convicted by the International Court of Justice for committing genocide. The Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government in 1917, endorsed the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[13471],"class_list":{"0":"post-435901","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-dr-najib-ul-haq"},"yoast_head":"\n