The current armed conflict in Palestine, which began on October 7 with Hamas attacks on Israel that left 1,200 people dead. A ceasefire lasted seven days, only to flare up again on November 30.
Israel has unleashed a disproportionate armed response on the Gaza Strip, a small territory inhabited by 2.3 million Palestinians.
According to the Palestine Health Authority, as of December 5, the death toll is estimated to be 16,000, with a third of the victims being children. To illustrate the magnitude of loss, this means that all the inhabitants of Tracadie would have died, since its population in 2023 is estimated at 16,023. It is estimated that the number of displaced people in the Gaza Strip is greater than the entire population of the province of New Brunswick. On the Israeli side, ten of thousands of civilians have also been displaced. This is horrific.
According to international humanitarian law, the parties involved in an armed conflict must follow laws to minimize the consequences for civilian populations. Civilian infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, homes, etc., must not be targeted. There must be no collective reprisals, such as preventing the entry of food, medicine or fuel, to weaken a population.
Unfortunately, in the present conflict, the Israeli government is using these weapons against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In view of the growing crisis and the disastrous consequences for civilians, a large number of international organizations have called for a ceasefire. The United Nations General Assembly has even adopted a resolution to this effect.
Unfortunately, our own federal government did not see fit to vote in favour of this resolution. A real shame, for a country that prides itself on being a defender of human rights on the international stage.
Jean-Claude Basque is member of the Order of New Brunswick.