Two Years of Genocide: The Orwellian Reality of Our Times
October 7 marked two long years of relentless Israeli military assault in Gaza, which has killed 66,000 people, a majority of them children, injured 170,000 people, forced 2 million people to flee multiple times, and destroyed 90% of the buildings, including critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded its two-year-long investigation last month, determining the situation to be a genocide as defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The people of Bangladesh have shown unwavering support and solidarity towards the people of Palestine, incessantly calling for an immediate ceasefire and a free Palestine. The Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus's speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly last month calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as the only means to end the catastrophe and ensure a sustainable path to peace, reiterated the Bangladesh Government's consistent position on the Israel-Palestine issue - "the indifference to human pain is destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle" is a reflection of the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh regarding justice for Palestinians. The attack on Gaza is not an isolated issue but symptomatic of a sinister reality for seven decades, where human rights and international law have been stripped of any real meaning or agency and reduced to mere words.
The ground reality underscores the urgency to action. While condemnation by global leadership has gained momentum, in part attributable to the tireless activism and mobilisation of people across the world in solidarity with the people of Palestine and putting pressure on their respective governments to act, it remains ineffective till it is followed by concrete and meaningful actions. Formal recognition of Palestine by countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, and Belgium in the past month, while a significant and symbolically powerful step, is only a prerequisite for a series of long-overdue actions. As outlined in the joint statement endorsed by 23 independent international NGOs and civil society organisations, including ActionAid, in the few weeks that have followed the recognition by these powerful nations, hundreds more have been killed and more than 1,500 have been injured by Israeli fire.
The military assault in Gaza City has intensified with deadly strikes on tents and buildings, forcing thousands to flee, where nowhere is safe. Several northern health facilities have shut down.The Israeli parliament's National Security Committee is moving to restrict humanatarian access to prisons (with over 9,500 Palestinians) and to enact a law authorising the death penalty for detainees. The parliament also approved fully annexing the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with officials expressing similar intent for Gaza and stating, "there is no Palestinian people and no Palestinian State."
Expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine, ActionAid Federation, including ActionAid Bangladesh, has actively campaigned and advocated for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to Israel's illegal occupation of the occupied
Palestinian territory, unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and accountability for crimes committed under international law, among others. ActionAid Palestine, despite the danger and dire conditions in Gaza, continues to work on the ground through partner organisations, distributing food assistance, shelter items, hygiene kits, and providing protection and counselling services.
Israeli authorities continue to violate international law, most recently with the detention of humanitarian volunteers from the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Bangladeshi photojournalist Dr Shahidul Alam. We urge the international community to demand an immediate and sustained ceasefire, pursue justice and accountability for crimes committed, and uphold the right to self-determination, leading to a free Palestine.
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