For almost 22 months, people’s hearts have been breaking, across borders, during the Israel-Gaza conflict. Parents in Gaza are losing their homes, their loved ones, and their children, wrapped in white shrouds. Doctors in Gaza operate on children — sometimes their own — without any anesthesia; American doctors who visit Gaza speak out in despair. Families in Israel pray for the return of hostages and fear rising antisemitism worldwide; families of hostages nearly unanimously call for ceasefire.
And now Gazans are dying of starvation due in large part to Israel’s blockage of humanitarian aid at the border. Mothers in Gaza can offer no reassurance when their children ask, “Mama, when will we eat?” Parents have no formula or breast milk to feed their newborns. We watch from around the world with mounting horror; asking what we can do, how we can help, if we are in fact losing our minds, as we see videos of children so hungry they are licking a truck.
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Over the last week, people have been speaking loudly about this starvation crisis in Gaza, described as “the worst-case scenario of famine.” The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said recent developments — including “increasingly stringent blockades” by Israel — have “dramatically worsened” the situation. The United Nations’ World Food Program declared that the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation, with a third of the population not eating for multiple days in a row.”
Jewish leaders and organizations are speaking out, as well. A group of high-profile Israeli public figures called for “crippling sanctions” to be imposed on Israel, demanding an immediate ceasefire and for Israel to end their blockage of food, water, medicine, and power into Gaza. Two prominent Israeli rights groups — B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel — declared that their country is committing genocide. Rabbis demanded that food aid reach starving families in Gaza.
“There is no higher calling as a Jewish mother than to feed the babies and fill the bellies,” says writer Bess Kalb on Instagram. “This is simply ‘never again.’ Right now.”
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What can we do? “There is no excuse for the world to stand by and watch two million human beings suffer on the brink of full-blown famine,” says José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen. “This is not a natural disaster triggered by drought or crop failures. It’s a man-made crisis, and there are man-made solutions that could save lives today.” Andrés outlines a four-step plan, including opening humanitarian corridors to all aid groups, increasing the production of hot meals, feeding Gazans where they are (instead of requiring them to travel to dangerous distribution points; Israeli forces have shot 1000+ Gazans who were trying to reach aid), and, finally, preparing a million meals per day, versus tens of thousands.
Gazans must feel so trapped and desperate. If my children were starving, I would want everyone in the world to stand and shout for help. Please join us in speaking about the crisis in Gaza — below are a few ways to do so. Of course, please add more ideas in the comments, if you have them. We are always eager to hear. xo
How to help:
1. Call your reps (or MP) to demand that humanitarian aid be let into Gaza. Here’s a script. Then text five people to call, too — it only works when a LOT of people are calling.
2. Post about Gaza on social media, hang a sign in your window (downloadable versions here and here), and speak to others — courage is contagious.
3. Donate to humanitarian organizations, like Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, World Central Kitchen and Gaza Soup Kitchen.
What would you add? How are you feeling? Sending a big hug to anyone who needs one. I know how emotional and fraught these issues are. I would like to hold space for those who are Jewish, Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian, for whom it must be exponentially difficult. Please share your thoughts below, and sending so much love to you, as always.
(Top photo by Tania Cervian/Stocksy; second photo by Abdel Kareem Hama.)
