DERRY JOURNAL Editorial: History watching on Gaza siege

In 10 days, more people have been killed in Palestine and Israel than in the entire course of the conflict here.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 17th Oct 2023, 09:35 BST
Updated 17th Oct 2023, 09:49 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

As of yesterday, ​the UN estimated at least 1,300 Israelis had been killed and 3,200 injured in Hamas’ attacks on the kibbutzim on Israel’s border with Gaza.

At least 2,750 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 7,500 wounded under Israeli bombardment. That’s 4,050 dead – innocent Palestinians and Israelis – in little over a week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hamas’ indiscriminate targeting of civilians – including young Irish-Israeli Kim Damti who was among hundreds attending a music festival last Saturday when she was murdered – was horrific.

KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA - OCTOBER 16: Palestinian children injured during Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip arrive on October 16, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Gazans are evacuating to the south following warnings to do so from the Israeli government, ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive. Israel has sealed off Gaza and launched sustained retaliatory air strikes, which have killed at least 2,500 people with more than 400,000 displaced, after a large-scale attack by Hamas. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza by land, sea, and air, killing over 1,300 people and wounding around 2,800. Israeli soldiers and civilians have also been taken hostage by Hamas and moved into Gaza. The attack prompted a declaration of war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the announcement of an emergency wartime government. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA - OCTOBER 16: Palestinian children injured during Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip arrive on October 16, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Gazans are evacuating to the south following warnings to do so from the Israeli government, ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive. Israel has sealed off Gaza and launched sustained retaliatory air strikes, which have killed at least 2,500 people with more than 400,000 displaced, after a large-scale attack by Hamas. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza by land, sea, and air, killing over 1,300 people and wounding around 2,800. Israeli soldiers and civilians have also been taken hostage by Hamas and moved into Gaza. The attack prompted a declaration of war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the announcement of an emergency wartime government. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)
KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA - OCTOBER 16: Palestinian children injured during Israeli raids in the southern Gaza Strip arrive on October 16, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Gazans are evacuating to the south following warnings to do so from the Israeli government, ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive. Israel has sealed off Gaza and launched sustained retaliatory air strikes, which have killed at least 2,500 people with more than 400,000 displaced, after a large-scale attack by Hamas. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza by land, sea, and air, killing over 1,300 people and wounding around 2,800. Israeli soldiers and civilians have also been taken hostage by Hamas and moved into Gaza. The attack prompted a declaration of war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the announcement of an emergency wartime government. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)

There can be no equivocation. Israel’s appalling bombardment and medieval siege of Gaza is barbaric. There can be no equivocation.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry is collecting evidence of war crimes on all sides.

Read More
Derry condemnation of Gaza siege as water runs out and UN warns of descent into ...

The most pressing issue is to end the siege. The UN says it has left millions of Palestinians without shelter, food, water and humanitarian aid. Health and sanitation services are collapsing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Palestinian paramedics cry outside Al-Shifa hopsital in Gaza City on October 16, 2023, as more than one million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip in scenes of chaos and despair amid continuing bombardment by Israeli forces of the Hamas-run Plaestinian territory. Israel declared war on Hamas a day after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people. (Photo by Dawood NEMER / AFP) (Photo by DAWOOD NEMER/AFP via Getty Images)Palestinian paramedics cry outside Al-Shifa hopsital in Gaza City on October 16, 2023, as more than one million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip in scenes of chaos and despair amid continuing bombardment by Israeli forces of the Hamas-run Plaestinian territory. Israel declared war on Hamas a day after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people. (Photo by Dawood NEMER / AFP) (Photo by DAWOOD NEMER/AFP via Getty Images)
Palestinian paramedics cry outside Al-Shifa hopsital in Gaza City on October 16, 2023, as more than one million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip in scenes of chaos and despair amid continuing bombardment by Israeli forces of the Hamas-run Plaestinian territory. Israel declared war on Hamas a day after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people. (Photo by Dawood NEMER / AFP) (Photo by DAWOOD NEMER/AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. There are not enough body bags for the dead.

It is a slow motion humanitarian catastrophe. Hamas should release its hostages. Israel must lif the siege and stop the bombardment which amounts to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

As Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said yesterday: “History is watching.”

Eastwood asks Sunak to ask Netanyahu to ‘stop dropping bombs on innocent children in Gaza’

Related topics:DERRY JOURNAL EditorialGazaHamasIsraelPalestinePalestinians