Rokan's Journal

– Brigadier General (Retd.) HRM Rokan Uddin, psc, PhD.

Today’s Gaza has descended into a deep, dark abyss—where survival becomes harder with each passing day. This 22-month-long aggression is not merely a war; it is the manifestation of a systematic and calculated genocide carried out in phases. Alongside bombs, bullets, and missiles, hunger, starvation, lack of medical care, and water shortages are now being weaponized. Israel is deliberately blocking the flow of food and medical aid, pushing thousands of women, children, and the elderly toward death. Despite repeated warnings by the United Nations and numerous human rights organizations, the global powers remain silent spectators. Children dying from starvation, destroyed hospitals, and bombed refugee camps are all undeniable evidence of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. This is no longer a conventional war—it is a cold-blooded extermination of a nation. Every cry, every death in Gaza today puts the global conscience on trial.

A Grim Reality

According to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-governed Gaza, more than 60,000 people have been killed in the ongoing 22-month-long Israeli offensive. However, this number includes only those killed by bombings and military attacks—it does not account for those who have perished due to hunger, malnutrition, or lack of medical treatment. The true picture is far more horrific.

The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared the situation as the onset of a full-fledged famine. According to IPC, famine in Gaza is no longer a fear—it is a reality. Children dying from malnutrition, widespread cries for food, and the total absence of humanitarian aid have combined to turn this into one of the most shameful chapters in modern human history. Ross Smith, Emergency Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said: “This is one of the worst humanitarian disasters of this century. It brings back memories of the notorious famines in Ethiopia and Biafra.” Gaza’s tragedy is no longer a war—it is a campaign of annihilation and a planned crime against humanity.

Israel’s Deliberate Starvation Policy

The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is neither accidental nor unintended—it is the outcome of Israel’s meticulously calculated and brutal military strategy. From March to May 2025, Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza, halting the entry of food, water, medicine, and fuel. This “total blockade” effectively turned Gaza into an open-air prison, where every child, elderly person, woman, and vulnerable soul is left to face death.

Although a tiny trickle of aid is allowed under international pressure, it is grossly inadequate compared to the needs of Gaza’s large population. As children cry out in hunger on the streets, a few aid trucks enter with scraps of assistance and quickly leave again—a blatant insult to humanity.

Since July 17, 16 children under the age of five have died from starvation alone. IPC has issued an urgent warning that unless rapid, unrestricted, and sustainable humanitarian aid is ensured immediately, thousands more innocent people will die. This must stop now. While Israel occasionally allows aid trucks in, its airstrikes continue unabated. Recently, a single night raid on Nuseirat refugee camp killed 30 people, including 14 women and 12 children. This is not a war—it is a historic stain on humanity.

False Propaganda and Concealment of Truth

The Israeli government, particularly the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, repeatedly claims that “there is no famine in Gaza.” They go further, blaming Hamas for allegedly looting food aid. But the reality is entirely different. International organizations such as the UN, WFP, and IPC have clearly stated that famine in Gaza is either imminent or already underway. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that a real famine is occurring in Gaza.

This false propaganda by Israel not only distorts reality but also serves as a strategic cover for genocide. Starvation, lack of medical treatment, and water scarcity are all part of a broader plan to wipe out the population of Gaza. This denial and disinformation aim to divert international attention and legitimize Israeli war crimes. It is a gross violation of humanity, international law, and human rights, and a brutal attempt to whitewash genocide.

Genocide—Fully Consistent with Legal Definitions

The political and military actions Israel is taking in Gaza clearly meet the legal definition of genocide under international law. A collective punishment is being imposed on an entire population—children, women, the elderly, no one is spared. Food, water, and medicine have been turned into weapons; these essentials are being withheld to deliberately destroy a nation. Humanitarian aid is either blocked or deliberately limited, making famine even more severe. Civilian homes, shelters, and hospitals have been bombed indiscriminately, constituting war crimes and acts of genocide. This is one of the darkest chapters in the history of humanity.

The World Remains Silent, The Crimes Continue

The United States and European nations remain passive bystanders. The international system, built after World War II to protect human rights, has utterly failed to protect Gaza. The silence of the global community has emboldened the perpetrators and allowed a humanitarian disaster of genocidal proportions to unfold before our eyes.

The time to act is now. Gaza’s cries must not go unanswered. This genocide must be stopped—for the sake of humanity, for the future of justice, and for the soul of the world.

Guidelines for a Solution

The crisis in Gaza has become a defining test for the conscience of the world. Israel’s long-standing blockade, military aggression, and the deliberate creation of a humanitarian catastrophe have crossed all boundaries of international human rights and justice. In this situation, the responsibility of the international community cannot remain limited to issuing statements or expressing concern—what is required now is bold, impartial, and effective action.

First, an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire must be enforced in Gaza. Children are dying every day, hospitals are being destroyed, and families are being buried under rubble. The longer this aggression continues, the deeper the humanitarian disaster will grow. Therefore, international diplomatic pressure, binding UN resolutions, and the active involvement of mediating states are essential to halt this conflict.

Second, unhindered access to humanitarian aid must be ensured. Hundreds of trucks carrying food, water, medicine, and medical supplies are stalled at Gaza’s borders as Israel blocks their entry under the pretext of security. Yet this aid is vital to save the lives of thousands of children, the sick, and war-torn families. Organizations like the United Nations, Red Cross, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) must be guaranteed the freedom to operate without obstruction.

Third, there must be a full, independent, and international investigation into the crimes committed in Gaza—especially genocide, child killings, attacks on hospitals, and obstruction of food supply. Any country or leader responsible for such crimes must be held accountable, no matter how powerful they are. The rule of law must apply to all—not just the weak.

Fourth, it is critical to impose diplomatic and economic sanctions on Israel. These should include suspension of arms supplies, restrictions on investments, and international isolation in global forums. History has shown that such measures were effective in dismantling apartheid in South Africa, and similar actions are needed in the case of Gaza.

Finally, for a long-term resolution of the Gaza and Palestine crisis, the world must return to the two-state solution. A sovereign Palestinian state must be established based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Unless the Gaza-Israel conflict is resolved politically, the cycle of bloodshed will continue to repeat itself across the region.

If the global community remains indifferent today, future generations will ask a haunting question— “When humanity was drowning in blood, what did you do?” The time is now—to stand by the innocent people of Gaza, to take a stand for justice and human rights. Because this crisis is not just Gaza’s—it is a crisis of humanity.

Conclusion

Gaza is no longer just a battlefield—it has become a killing field of genocide. The indiscriminate attacks on children, women, and the elderly, the deliberate blockade of food and medicine, and the attempt to annihilate an entire nation—nothing could be more brutal. Israel’s current actions amount to a state-sponsored genocide. History will remember this crime against humanity.

Now is the time to rise and declare: “Enough is enough!”

The future of our shared humanity will be determined by how we answer this question: Will the world stand against Gaza? Gaza must be saved. Now.