Israel's blockade of Gaza continues, with political and economic control leaving Palestinians powerless. Despite global outrage, powerful nations remain silent. When will the world take action?

Israel has completely disregarded human rights laws and turned Gaza into ruins, with some countries, including the U.S., supporting it. The U.S. has even vetoed ceasefire resolutions in the United Nations Security Council. Despite 11 months passing, no Muslim country, nor powerful nations like China and Russia, have been able to stop Israel. Helpless Palestinians are asking the 57 Islamic countries and over a billion Muslims, “Will we continue to be crushed while you remain silent?” The dead bodies of children are asking the 206 independent nations of the world, “Why were we killed?” Israel has always claimed that it is only defending itself and not committing crimes, but the reality is quite different.

A few days ago, the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah responded to Israeli terrorism by firing 320 rockets and over 100 explosive drones at Israel to avenge the killing of their commander, Fawad Shukr. The attacks targeted Israeli military installations and the Iron Dome defense system. In retaliation, Israeli warplanes launched attacks on Lebanon, while Israel claimed that its air force had preemptively destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rockets before they could be fired. In the latest attacks, 71 more Palestinians were killed, including at least 20 women and children in Khan Younis and surrounding areas. Hamas condemned Israel for desecrating a historic mosque and the Quran in Gaza, sparking outrage among Muslims worldwide. Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir even said that if it were up to him, he would build a Jewish temple within the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. This mindset has prolonged the war.

Palestinians are politically and economically powerless. They have no currency of their own, and their business transactions depend on the Israeli shekel. Last year, foreign currency worth approximately $14 billion received by the Palestinian Authority and citizens was converted into 53 billion shekels and delivered to the occupied government and people of Palestine. Palestine can only maintain its economic ties with the outside world through Israeli banks, which strengthens Israel’s currency. Any foreign aid or remittance Palestinians receive, whether in dollars or other currencies, is exchanged for shekels by Israel. In other words, Israel controls the economic lifeline of Palestine.

For 11 months, Gaza has been under a complete air, sea, and land blockade. Not a grain of wheat or a barrel of water can enter without Israel’s approval. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been labeled as a terrorist organization by Israel, making its health centers, schools, housing settlements, and employment schemes legitimate military targets. Unemployment among Palestinians has reached 45%. Goods worth millions of dollars that Palestinians had supplied to Israel on credit have had their payments frozen. Farmers who have worked on their ancestral lands for centuries have had their fields confiscated for "defense purposes." The insensitivity is shocking. To completely cripple the Palestinian economy, the Israeli finance minister ordered Israeli banks to stop accepting Palestinian shekels as cash. This means the Palestinian Authority cannot make purchases or payments. What more is left to wait for?

Resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly, representing 195 countries, are non-binding. In recent years, several Arab nations, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have been improving relations with Israel. Hamas attacked Israel to disrupt these relations, knowing that Israel seeks to capture Gaza to secure its own safety by taking control of the city.

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