Sir, – Israel’s latest military operation in Gaza (“Israel’s surprise strikes kill at least 10 in Gaza”, News, August 4th), it’s fifth since 2008, coincides with the 15th anniversary of its blockade of the Strip which has reduced 2.1 million people, most of them refugees, to penury. In June, Save the Children reported that 80 per cent of Gaza’s children are experiencing “emotional distress” and wrestling with depression, fear and grief manifested in “worrying behaviours”. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not the result of a natural disaster but the carefully crafted policy of the Israeli government and entirely illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Israel’s “Breaking Dawn” operation, like those that have proceeded it, has resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and been greeted with silent complicity from the international community. Israel’s closure of crossings into Gaza has resulted in its only power plant shutting down, heaping further misery on a vulnerable population. This cycle of violence and poverty will only end with its root cause – the medieval blockade – being lifted without delay.
This requires that international actors follow the lead of Palestinian civil society in supporting boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) as a non-violent form of direct action to ensure respect for Palestinian rights. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN McCLOSKEY,
Director,
Centre for Global Education,
Belfast.