By Momina Khalid
Gaza is a place where people deserve to live in peace—just like anywhere else on Earth. Yet, this simple truth has been trampled under relentless bombardment, siege, and a systematic denial of rights. Since October 7, 2023, the people of Gaza have endured one of the most devastating wars in recent memory, leaving tens of thousands dead and an entire population struggling for survival.
Israel’s military offensive has killed over 60,000 Palestinians—nearly half of them women and children—turning Gaza into a graveyard of hope. Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s actions as part of a system of oppression and domination across both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Beyond the direct loss of life, the human cost extends to silenced voices and broken systems. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 186 journalists have been killed, gutting press freedom and stifling information from reaching the world. Humanitarian workers, the lifelines for a besieged population, have also been targeted. The Government Media Office in Gaza reports that 1,513 aid workers have been killed, including 1,402 from medical teams and 111 from Civil Defense teams.
This war has not only destroyed lives but also crippled Gaza’s already fragile infrastructure. Bombardments have turned hospitals into rubble, flattened schools, and reduced entire neighborhoods to ash. Under this destruction lies another catastrophe: hunger. Gaza is now facing one of the worst hunger crises in the world. Israel’s total blockade, enforced since March 2, 2025, cut off food, medicine, fuel, and clean water to the entire population of 2.1 million. The result has been mass starvation, with over 500,000 people on the brink. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable. Since the beginning of 2025, over 10,000 children have suffered acute malnutrition, with 1,600 of them in severe condition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 74 malnutrition-related deaths in 2025 alone—63 of them in July—including 24 children under five. Gaza’s health ministry states the total death toll from hunger has reached 154, including 89 children. While Israel has recently eased the blockade slightly under international pressure, the damage is done. The famine has deepened. At least 60,000 children remain at risk of permanent health complications from malnutrition.
These are not accidents of war. They are the result of deliberate choices. Israel’s actions—including illegal killings, the restriction of aid, attacks on medical facilities, and the silencing of journalists—constitute grave violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The IHL is designed to protect those not participating in hostilities, such as civilians, aid workers, and medical staff. It prohibits targeting hospitals and blocking food or medicine. When these rules are broken, the acts become war crimes. Yet, despite widespread documentation and global condemnation, there has been no accountability.
Does International Humanitarian Law not apply to Israel? Has Israel not killed civilians and aid workers? Has it not blocked food and medicine, bombed hospitals, and tortured prisoners? These questions highlight the glaring double standards in the enforcement of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Despite clear evidence of violations, Israel has not been held accountable for actions that, if committed by other states, would have drawn severe international condemnation and consequences. Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, including aid workers and medical personnel—individuals explicitly protected under IHL. It has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza, cutting off access to essential food, water, and medical supplies, leading to widespread hunger and malnutrition. Furthermore, reports of hospitals being bombed and prisoners being mistreated point to additional breaches of humanitarian law. These actions, by definition, constitute war crimes under international law. Yet, the lack of concrete accountability raises a fundamental question: why is Israel seemingly exempt from the legal and moral standards that govern the conduct of war?
Words are not enough. Press releases and statements of concern have done little to prevent starvation, suffering, and death. Justice demands action. There must be an independent investigation into these crimes. Israel must be held accountable for violating international law and for denying Gaza its most basic right: the right to live. The international community must no longer watch in silence. Gaza is not a battleground. It is a home to millions of human beings—people who, like everyone else, have a right to live.
The writer is the student of Communication and Media Studies at Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.