Israel continues to employ starvation as a weapon of war, even under President Donald Trump's fragile ceasefire plan. The US-brokered agreement between Hamas and Israel has been on the line for weeks, with little progress in implementing its 20 points. While some provisions have been partially implemented, including the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the situation remains dire.
Despite a recent visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reiterated the pledge to set up an international force, there is still no clarity on Hamas's role or the trajectory of hostilities in Gaza. Sporadic violence continues, and foreign powers are reluctant to intervene due to fear of appearing as occupiers.
The problem lies deeper than just Hamas - it involves Israel's military, which has been systematically strangling food supplies, medicines, and other necessities to Gaza residents. They've also razed croplands, prohibited fishing, and destroyed critical infrastructure such as reservoirs, wastewater treatment plants, and hospitals. This collective action is designed to destroy Palestinians in Gaza and constitutes one of the definitions of genocide.
The US government bears significant responsibility for these human rights abuses due to its annual $3.8 billion military aid package to Israel. The Biden and Trump administrations could have ended these abuses by suspending aid and issuing sanctions, but they chose not to.
Despite a recent visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reiterated the pledge to set up an international force, there is still no clarity on Hamas's role or the trajectory of hostilities in Gaza. Sporadic violence continues, and foreign powers are reluctant to intervene due to fear of appearing as occupiers.
The problem lies deeper than just Hamas - it involves Israel's military, which has been systematically strangling food supplies, medicines, and other necessities to Gaza residents. They've also razed croplands, prohibited fishing, and destroyed critical infrastructure such as reservoirs, wastewater treatment plants, and hospitals. This collective action is designed to destroy Palestinians in Gaza and constitutes one of the definitions of genocide.
The US government bears significant responsibility for these human rights abuses due to its annual $3.8 billion military aid package to Israel. The Biden and Trump administrations could have ended these abuses by suspending aid and issuing sanctions, but they chose not to.