October 3, 2024 — Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh has condemned the continued U.S. military support for Israel amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Highlighting the tragic toll of the ongoing conflict, the ambassador called attention to the devastating impact on Palestinian civilians, particularly women and children.
Since the conflict began, relentless bombings have claimed the lives of 41,615 Palestinians and left 96,359 injured, many with life-altering wounds. According to the press release, 902 families have been entirely erased from the civil registry.
Shawesh cited a recent Human Rights Watch report, which documented the deaths of 38 Palestinians, mostly children, from malnutrition and dehydration in hospitals as of mid-September. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 22,500 people have sustained life-changing injuries. UNICEF has also reported that thousands of children lost limbs in the first three months of hostilities.
The statement paints a grim picture of Gaza, where food insecurity is escalating. By August, over a million residents were without food rations, a number that rose to 1.4 million in September. Despite the urgent need for supplies, 100,000 metric tons of food remain stranded due to damaged infrastructure and access restrictions. The destruction of 70% of Gaza’s crop fields has left much of the population entirely dependent on humanitarian aid.
Shawesh strongly criticized Israel for using starvation as a method of war and exacerbating the water crisis in Gaza. He also condemned Israel’s recent decision to declare UN Secretary-General António Guterres “persona non grata” and ban him from entering Israel. This comes despite Guterres’ strong support from Security Council members, with only the U.S. remaining silent on the matter. The ambassador described the situation as “the worst rude farce and dark comedy in political history.”
Despite a call from the International Court of Justice to end arms transfers to Israel, and a General Assembly resolution affirming this demand, Israel recently secured $8.7 billion in military aid from the United States to maintain its military advantage in the region. Ambassador Abu Shawesh questioned whether the conflict was now effectively a “U.S. war against the Palestinian people.”
He vowed that despite the overwhelming hardships, the Palestinian spirit remains unbroken. He emphasized the importance of preserving cultural traditions like storytelling for future generations, even amidst the devastation.
“Thank you, Gaza, for revealing their true colors,” he concluded, calling attention to the international community’s role in the ongoing conflict.