Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinian territories 12/8/2024

                                           Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinian territories

 Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinian territories since October of last year has devastated Gaza, leaving tens of thousands dead and over 100,000 others wounded, many with life-altering injuries. In fact, the United Nations reported this week that Gaza now has the highest per-capita rate of child amputees in the world, with many children enduring surgery without anesthesia.

One powerful example of the human cost of this war is the story of 13-year-old Leyan Abu al-Atta, whose leg was amputated following an Israeli airstrike on her home in Deir al-Balah last December. The journey of Leyan and her family is captured in the new documentary All That Remains by Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines. In the film, director Rhana Natour describes Leyan’s harrowing ordeal, explaining that although Leyan’s family managed to raise awareness and secure a medical evacuation, it was too late to save her leg. As Natour notes, “For every Leyan who is able to leave Gaza, there are hundreds, if not thousands, who are not able to leave.”
Despite the family’s efforts, Leyan’s injury was severe. After gangrene set in, doctors had no choice but to amputate her leg in Cairo to save her life. The documentary not only follows Leyan’s recovery, but also provides a window into the deep emotional toll the conflict has had on her family. Leyan’s mother had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave behind her other children and her husband, who remains in Gaza, in order to save her daughter’s life. The film captures the painful separation, while also highlighting Leyan’s incredible resilience and determination.
Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a renowned surgeon who worked in Gaza with Doctors Without Borders, provides chilling insight into the scale of amputations in the region. He describes how, due to delays in treatment, many children’s wounds became infected, leading to amputations that were necessary to save their lives. Dr. Abu-Sittah also emphasizes the long-term challenges faced by these children, who require multiple surgeries and prosthetics as their bodies grow.
The film paints a grim picture of the daily trauma faced by children in Gaza, but it also offers a glimmer of hope. Leyan’s story is one of survival, but it also raises critical questions about the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. As Natour’s documentary poignantly shows, while some children like Leyan are fortunate enough to escape the worst of the conflict, many others are not so lucky. In a time when the suffering of Palestinian civilians is too often ignored or downplayed, All That Remains stands as a powerful reminder of the human cost of this ongoing war funded by a constant flow of weapons from the United States.
For more go to: https://callforsocialjustice.blogspot.com/

A Call for Stronger Leadership on Foreign Policy 12/7/2024

                                      A Call for Stronger Leadership on Foreign Policy

As President Biden nears the final weeks of his term, I’ve been reflecting on how he can best use his remaining influence and political capital to advance American interests on the world stage. When he first took office, I had high hopes for his leadership. However, to my disappointment, I believe he has fallen short in several critical areas of international relations.
There have been a number of historic lapses in Biden’s foreign policy, from the growing atrocities in Sudan to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But perhaps most troubling is the war in Gaza, which has been perpetuated with American weaponry. This conflict has become an albatross around Biden’s neck, and it is time for him to reevaluate his approach.
Sudan, which is arguably the world’s worst humanitarian crisis right now, is a glaring example of Biden’s inaction. The United States is partnered with the United Arab Emirates, which has been supplying weapons to some of the most brutal militias in Sudan—militias responsible for mass murder, rape, and famine. Despite the gravity of the situation, Biden has remained publicly silent about the UAE’s role. By speaking out, Biden could raise the costs of the UAE’s actions and encourage a more constructive role from them in resolving the crisis.
In Gaza, the situation is equally dire. It’s time for Biden to follow American law, which prohibits the shipment of offensive weapons to any country impeding the flow of humanitarian aid. Israel’s actions are blocking the flow of aid, worsening the suffering of civilians. Yet, despite his decades-long rhetoric on morality in foreign policy, Biden has continued to send weapons to Israel, contributing to a conflict that has already killed over 40,000 ( a gross undercount) people, with UNICEF calling Gaza “the worst place to be a child” in the world today.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but Biden has used American influence in the UN to shield Netanyahu’s government. By continuing to supply weapons and protecting Netanyahu at the international level, Biden has, in effect, allowed this violence to continue unchecked.
President Biden has been outmaneuvered by Netanyahu, and the only way to get his attention again is by using leverage—specifically, withholding offensive weapons. Other presidents have done this in the past, but Biden has been notably weak on this front.
Biden still has a chance to end his presidency on a more principled note by enforcing American law, pressing for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza, and prioritizing the recovery of Israeli hostages rather than continuing to fuel the conflict.
The last four years under Biden have been disappointing. This is President Biden’s chance, albeit belated, to begin correcting course and leaving a legacy that reflects both strength and moral clarity in foreign policy.