By Hosea Parah, Abuja

Amnesty International has issued a powerful condemnation of the ongoing violence in Gaza, labeling it “genocide” and demanding immediate international intervention. The human rights organization’s latest findings highlight the devastating toll on Palestinians, underscoring the urgent need for global action to address the crisis.

As of December 4, 2024, reports reveal that 44,466 Palestinians have been killed, and 105,358 have been injured, with the majority being women and children. Thousands more remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings, unable to receive critical medical care. The destruction has also decimated local institutions, with 249 UNRWA staff members confirmed dead, and 17,000 others fearing for their jobs.

The detention of Palestinians has reached alarming levels, with 11,900 arrests made, including over 10,000 under administrative detention. Among the detainees, 790 are children and 435 are women, illustrating the widespread human rights abuses in the region.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. Prices for essential food items have skyrocketed by over 1,000%, making basic necessities unaffordable for most families. Only seven of Gaza’s 27 UNRWA health centers remain operational, struggling to provide care amidst overwhelming need. The region now has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world, with many surgeries performed without anesthesia due to a lack of medical supplies.

Violence has also escalated in the Occupied West Bank, where 736 Palestinians, including 170 children, have been killed between October 7, 2023, and October 31, 2024. Many of these deaths have been attributed to Israeli forces and settlers.

The conflict has forced over 130,000 Palestinians to flee their homes since October 6, 2024. Seventy percent of those displaced are women and children, who are now exposed to inadequate shelter, gender-based violence, and food insecurity. Families are resorting to extreme survival tactics, such as drinking contaminated water and selling personal belongings.

Despite efforts to provide aid, the international response has been severely hindered. Between November 1 and 25, 2024, the United Nations attempted 41 times to deliver humanitarian assistance to besieged areas in North Gaza, but 37 of these efforts were blocked by Israeli authorities. Only a small number of humanitarian trucks have been allowed to enter Gaza, far below the amount needed to address the growing crisis.

In addition, Israeli authorities have announced plans to confiscate call-to-prayer speakers from mosques, citing noise concerns. This controversial measure has been widely condemned as an attempt to suppress Palestinian cultural and religious practices.

Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, Ambassador of the State of Palestine, has condemned the ongoing violence and called for immediate global action. “This genocide must end now,” he stated, stressing the urgent need for the international community to intervene and end the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

As the situation continues to worsen, calls for a ceasefire and renewed efforts for peace are growing. The world now faces the critical task of taking decisive action to end the violence and pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.