Israel refuses emergency aid to civilians. The solution is simple.

Norwegians do not understand the complexity, claims Israel’s ambassador to Norway Avi Nir Feldklein. Is it really that complex?

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Almost six months ago they were living in their home, going to school, university and maybe work. They cooked wonderful food, and they were with family and friends in their country, on the coast of the Mediterranean. Now Palestinians are killed by rockets, in food queues or by hunger.

The UN court demands that Israel provide more food to the residents of Gaza now. The same court said two months ago that Israel is likely to commit genocide. Israel’s ambassador to Norway Avi Nir Feldklein believes in Aftenposten on 25 March that Norwegians do not understand the complexity. But it is difficult to see past the fact that 1.1 million people are now starving.

All six border crossings to Gaza are controlled by Israel. Also the border with Egypt. All emergency aid is inspected, and Israel decides what is allowed. If there is one item on the truck that is not approved, the entire truck must be returned.

In the month of February, an average of 76 lorries per day to a population of 2.3 million.

Catastrophic

UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently stood at Rafah, the border with Gaza, and pointed to the long lines of blocked emergency aid on the Egyptian side and pointed to “the long shadows of hunger on the other”.

Now Israeli leaders have said that they refuse all cooperation with the organization Unrwa, which distributes food inside Gaza. 1.1 million people live at a catastrophic level of hunger. 550,000 people in the north of Gaza are completely besieged and receive minimal help.

Although Ambassador Feldklein claims that using hunger as a weapon is immoral and illegal, that is exactly what his government is doing.

Starvation occurs when Israel refuses emergency aid to come in and attacks the centers for distribution. Systematic destruction of roads and infrastructure also makes distribution of food difficult. On 13 March, one of the few remaining UNRWA distribution centers in Gaza was bombed.

Five people were killed and 22 others were injured in the attack.

The occupying army has a full overview of where hospitals and emergency aid centers are. The UN sends their coordinates to them daily. Nevertheless, they are hit by Israeli rockets.

Using hunger as a weapon is a war crime

Every day around 100 people are killed in Palestine. Children and the elderly. The family of my friends who live here in Norway. Maybe the nephew of your Palestinian neighbor. Heroes and future hopes you haven’t heard of yet.

It is only a few weeks since the flour massacre, when 112 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get emergency aid.

12 people drowned while trying to find emergency aid dropped by plane in the Mediterranean.

On Monday, seven aid workers from the organization World Central Kitchen were killed by Israeli forces.

According to Human Rights Watch, Israel deliberately refuses emergency aid to civilians, and hunger is used as a weapon. The solution is simple. The land borders and roads into Gaza must be opened. Israel must comply with the UN Security Council’s resolution on a ceasefire. Is it really that complex?