Israel is starving Gaza

Dear [Elected official / Candidate’s Name], 

I am writing to you to urgently draw your attention to the famine in Gaza, where the population accounts for 80% of those facing catastrophic hunger worldwide. The blockade and deliberate targeting of humanitarian aid have resulted in a situation where the population, particularly children, is facing unimaginable levels of hunger and malnutrition.

The tragic story of Fayez Abu Abaya, a seven-month-old boy who starved to death, epitomises the dire reality in Gaza. Born during the ongoing genocide, Fayez’s life was cut short by a calculated strategy to deny essential supplies to 2.3 million people. This is not a logistical failure but a deliberate choice to inflict suffering on the Palestinian population. This is collective punishment.

The blockade severely limits aid access to the Strip, but the famine is also exacerbated by Israeli forces targeting aid both physically and politically. False allegations against UNRWA staff led to the mass defunding of the region’s largest humanitarian organisation. The targeting and murder of aid workers from World Central Kitchen also led to a suspension of their efforts due to safety concerns.

Israel has repeatedly attacked aid trucks directly, including the bombing of one in March killing 9 Palestinians. Just days earlier, Israeli forces open-fired on a crowd attempting to retrieve aid in the ‘flour massacre’, which saw more than 118 murdered, and 760 injured.

Moreover, by January, Israel had destroyed 22% of Gaza’s agricultural land and 70% of its fishing fleet, exacerbating food shortages. This deliberate destruction of vital resources has made Gaza the epicentre of famine, a cruel tactic in ensuring the region is uninhabitable.

In Gaza, the average person is surviving on just 245 calories a day. The situation is dire, with over 90% of young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women subsisting on two or fewer food groups, mainly bread, and lacking essential nutrients. This severe malnutrition is causing irreversible damage to the development of children, leading to long-term health issues such as poor eyesight and learning difficulties.

Given the severity of this made-made catastrophe and collective punishment, I urge you to advocate for immediate sanctions against Israel to ensure a ceasefire and unimpeded access to international humanitarian aid to Gaza. The international community must not stand by while such atrocities continue. Concrete actions are needed to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and uphold the principles of human rights and international law.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your prompt and decisive action to support the fundamental rights and dignity of the people of Gaza.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Full Address]