Gaza’s Starvation Is By Design, Not Misfortune, Warns Dr. Leon

“The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”—Nelson Mandela 1997.Recently, an NPR discussion addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pointing out that Palestinians are not merely starving but are facing an intentional starvation. This critical distinction matters. In Gaza, food and medical supplies are trapped in trucks at the border due to Israeli blockades. These measures are not accidental; they are part of a deliberate policy to force Palestinians into submission. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are implicated in this strategy. Reports reveal aid distribution sites have become perilous; Palestinians have been killed while seeking assistance. The current blockade illustrates a cruel manipulation of humanitarian aid to address not a famine, but a political predicament. While some American politicians express sympathy, they often overlook the longstanding illegal occupation and the urgent need for accountability. The compounding crisis of starvation and aid denial constitutes a failure of global conscience, representing an act of collective punishment—an unequivocal war crime. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)