THE GAZA TRAGEDY: Violation of humanity, law and conscience
Kollol Kibria 21 March, 2025, 00:00
Protestors rally outside the White House against Israeli bombing of Gaza on March 18 in Washington, DC. | Agence France-Presse/Getty Images/Andrew Harnik
FOR the people of Gaza, this Ramadan has brought nothing but sorrow — a sorrow deeper than words can capture, especially during what should be a time of peace. The sounds of warplanes, the distant echoes of bombs, and the constant fear of death have turned what should be a month of spiritual renewal into one of grief and despair. For the people of Gaza, this Ramadan is marked not by moments of prayer and joy but by the unbearable loss, uncertainty, and an unending cycle of violence.
This year, Gaza’s residents had hoped for a brief moment of respite, a fleeting glimpse of peace, of normalcy. They dreamed that perhaps, just perhaps, this Ramadan and Eid would be different. Perhaps, after so many years of suffering, they could experience a small measure of joy, free from the constant threat of war, free from the ever-present shadow of death.
They dreamed that this Eid, their children would at least laugh in the streets and celebrate with their families without fear. But those dreams have been shattered, and in their place lies a grim reality.
As warplanes continue to soar above Gaza, the sound of their engines is drowned out only by the blasts of bombs falling from the sky. On the eve of Eid, the people of Gaza are preparing for the unimaginable: carrying the lifeless bodies of their children, their parents, their siblings and loved ones ripped from them by airstrikes that show no mercy. These innocent lives, once full of potential, are now buried beneath the rubble of destroyed homes. The children who should have been celebrating the joy of Eid with their families will never get to do so. Instead, their families must bury them, their laughter forever silenced by the brutality of this ongoing conflict.
On March 18, 2025, Israel launched a devastating attack on Gaza, one that has claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent men, women and children, including the prime minister of Gaza. In the span of mere hours, homes were destroyed, lives were torn apart, and Gaza was plunged further into despair. The images of shattered homes and grieving families serve as a haunting reminder of the violence that continues to ravage this region. It is a violence that has no end in sight, a violence that disregards every norm of humanity and every law of warfare. The lives of innocent civilians are treated as expendable, their deaths nothing more than a footnote in the history of an unrelenting conflict.
But what makes this tragedy even more heart-wrenching is the continued support that Israel receives from powerful nations, most notably the United States. Despite the overwhelming evidence of civilian casualties and the cries of innocent children being silenced, the US continues to fund Israel’s military operations, providing the weapons and resources needed to carry out these devastating airstrikes. While the US government claims to promote peace and stability in the region, its actions tell a different story. They are complicit in the deaths of hundreds of innocent people, providing the means for more destruction, more suffering and more loss.
Their deaths are not just a tragedy for Gaza but for the entire world, a reflection of the collective failure to protect innocent lives and to uphold the basic principles of humanity and justice.
This Ramadan, the world must confront the harsh truth: the lives of innocent people in Gaza are being taken, and yet the international community remains largely silent. The time for silence is over. The world must demand an end to the violence. The people of Gaza are not asking for much; they are asking simply to live, to be allowed to celebrate Eid with their children, and to enjoy a moment of peace amidst the suffering. But that peace continues to be denied to them, not by their own actions, but by the actions of those who hold the power to stop the bloodshed but choose not to.
How many more lives must be lost before the world acts? How many more children must be buried before we say enough? The cries of the innocent are growing louder, but they fall on deaf ears. It is time for the international community to take a stand, to hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable, and to demand an immediate end to the violence. The people of Gaza have suffered for far too long.
The human cost
THE scale of human suffering is staggering. Over 400 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 500 others injured in a single day. Among the victims are children, who, for the most part, should be playing and learning, not dying under bombs. Gaza’s children, once hopeful and full of dreams, have been rendered powerless against a machine of war that recognises no innocence. Their bodies lie in the rubble of their homes, schools and places of worship, caught in a senseless cycle of violence they did not choose and cannot escape.
Equally tragic is the death of the Prime Minister of Gaza, a figure who had dedicated his life to serving his people amid tremendous hardship. His death is not just the loss of a leader; it is a loss to the entire political framework of Gaza. The repercussions of his assassination will be felt across the region and reverberate throughout the international community. Yet, his death is but one example of the widespread targeting of individuals whose only crime was their involvement in seeking some form of peace and governance amidst chaos.
The world has witnessed, time and again, how children become the unintended victims of conflicts they do not understand. They are victims of both the direct violence inflicted upon them and the long-term psychological toll of living under constant threat. How many more children must die before the international community is forced to act?
Violating international law
INTERNATIONAL humanitarian law, enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and other treaties, is meant to protect civilian lives during conflict. These laws prohibit the targeting of civilian populations and mandate that belligerent parties distinguish between combatants and non-combatants. The recent Israeli airstrikes, which targeted densely populated civilian areas in Gaza, flagrantly disregard these principles.
These attacks, executed in violation of the Geneva Conventions, raise profound questions about the accountability of those who carry out such strikes. According to the conventions, any deliberate attack on civilians constitutes a war crime. The principle of proportionality in international law mandates that the harm caused to civilians should not be excessive in relation to the military advantage sought. However, the indiscriminate nature of the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, killing large numbers of civilians, including children, undermines this legal framework.
In addition to the Geneva Conventions, Israel’s actions also violate customary international law, which includes the protection of civilians in times of conflict. The targeting of infrastructure that supports civilian life, such as homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship, further breaches these legal obligations. The destruction of such critical infrastructure not only exacerbates human suffering but also threatens to destabilise Gaza’s already fragile healthcare and educational systems.
It is worth noting that such violations are not isolated. They have become part of a broader pattern of actions that disregard basic human rights and dignity. Despite the repeated calls from human rights organisations and the international community for Israel to cease these attacks, there has been little accountability or change.
Failure of international diplomacy
WHILE the world watches these horrific events unfold, there has been an agonising lack of meaningful international response. The United Nations has condemned the violence, yet it has failed to take any decisive steps to halt the bloodshed. The United States, one of Israel’s closest allies, has voiced support for Israel’s self-defence claims, despite the overwhelming evidence of civilian casualties. Meanwhile, European nations, such as the United Kingdom and France, have urged Israel to exercise restraint but have not gone beyond diplomatic rhetoric.
This diplomatic paralysis is inexcusable. The global community’s failure to act decisively not only allows violence to continue but also emboldens the perpetrators. In such situations, the international community must ask itself: how many lives must be lost before action is taken? What price will the world pay for standing idly by while Gaza burns?
Holding war criminals to account
ONE of the most pressing issues following this latest attack is the need for accountability. International law cannot be a mere abstraction; it must have real consequences for those who violate it. The death of innocent civilians, particularly children, and the targeted killing of political figures demand a full investigation by international bodies such as the International Criminal Court. The principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows for the prosecution of war crimes regardless of where they occur, should be invoked to hold the Israeli military accountable for its actions.
This process must not be hindered by political considerations or diplomatic relationships. The lives of innocent civilians cannot be weighed against the strategic interests of powerful nations. War crimes must be prosecuted, and those responsible must be held to account. If justice is not pursued, the world will continue to witness atrocities such as this, and the hope for lasting peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East will remain elusive.
Role of the international community
THE international community must step up to prevent further violence and ensure that the voices of the oppressed are heard. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to flow freely into Gaza, and all parties involved in the conflict must agree to allow international peacekeeping forces to help protect civilians. Moreover, there needs to be greater focus on the protection of children in conflict zones. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates the protection of children from the ravages of war, should be a guiding principle for all governments and international organisations. Yet, in Gaza, this convention is being flagrantly ignored, as children are killed in their homes, schools and playgrounds.
In addition to immediate relief efforts, there must be long-term efforts to ensure lasting peace. This means addressing the root causes of the conflict: territorial disputes, historical grievances, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza. Negotiations must be reinvigorated, with a focus on creating a just and lasting solution that respects the rights and sovereignty of both Israelis and Palestinians.
As Gaza bleeds, the world must not turn away. The deaths of innocent children and leaders cannot be ignored. The global community has a moral obligation to intervene and put an end to the violence. The first step in that process is a ceasefire, but that must be followed by a comprehensive peace plan that addresses the humanitarian crisis, ensures accountability for war crimes, and promotes long-term peace and stability in the region.
The international community must not only condemn the actions of those who commit atrocities in Gaza but must also take concrete steps to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. This may require stronger sanctions, military interventions to protect civilians, or the imposition of international peacekeeping forces to maintain order and provide protection.
Most importantly, the lives of Gaza’s children must be safeguarded. No child should have to live in a world where their safety is constantly at risk, where their hopes and dreams are crushed under the weight of war.
The tragic events of March 18 have once again demonstrated the fragility of life in Gaza and the deep injustice faced by its people. But they also serve as a stark reminder of the failure of the international community to prevent such atrocities. We must act now, before the bloodshed continues, before more lives are lost, and before the children of Gaza are forever robbed of their future. The time for words is over; the world must act.
Kollol Kibria is an advocate, human rights activist and political analyst.
Bangladesh Defense
