Alberta West News: War in Gaza: Descent into savagery

Friday, June 20, 2025

War in Gaza: Descent into savagery

The ongoing war in Gaza has precipitated a profound humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread violence, starvation, and systematic destruction, as detailed in recent reports and analyses. The situation on the ground reflects a descent into extreme brutality, with devastating consequences for the civilian population.

Scale of Violence and Casualties

Since the escalation of conflict following the collapse of a ceasefire on March 17-18, 2025, Israeli military operations have intensified, resulting in staggering civilian casualties. As of May 22, 2025, over 61,700 Palestinians have been killed and 117,729 injured in Gaza, with 1.9 million displaced1. Earlier figures from May 4, 2025, reported by UN experts, cited 52,535 deaths, with 70% being women and children, and 118,491 injuries2. The Israeli offensive, codenamed "Operation Gideon's Chariots," launched on May 16, 2025, aims to destroy Hamas's infrastructure and take control of the entire Gaza Strip, with the Israeli military now controlling approximately 50% of the territory as of June 9, 20253. Specific incidents, such as airstrikes on May 18, 2025, killed over 400 people, and on March 18, 2025, resulted in 600 casualties in a single day, including 400 children21. This relentless violence has targeted civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and shelters, with the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza shuttered by May 19, 20253.

Humanitarian Catastrophe and Starvation

The blockade of humanitarian aid, imposed by Israeli authorities since March 2, 2025, has exacerbated the crisis, with no supplies entering Gaza for over ten weeks as of May 23, 20254. This has led to catastrophic food insecurity, with the entire 2.1 million population facing prolonged shortages, and nearly 470,000 people in a state of catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5) as of May 202545. The World Health Organization reported that 57 children have died from malnutrition effects since the blockade began, with projections estimating 71,000 children under five at risk of acute malnutrition in the coming months5. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has described the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, potentially constituting a war crime4. The deliberate withholding of food and essentials has been condemned as a tactic to induce starvation and despair, further compounding the suffering25.

Forced Displacement and Ethnic Cleansing Concerns

Mass displacement has been a central feature of the conflict, with nearly 2 million Palestinians forcibly relocated within Gaza, often to areas later targeted by attacks6. Israeli policies have been accused of aiming for permanent depopulation, with Human Rights Watch and UN experts warning of systematic forced displacement amounting to ethnic cleansing62. Reports indicate a strategy of rendering areas uninhabitable through destruction of infrastructure, pushing populations into so-called "concentration areas" with unbearable conditions, as a means to facilitate expulsion7. Israeli statements and actions, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration to take control of the entire Gaza Strip, suggest a potential long-term military occupation, raising fears of irreversible demographic changes83.

Motivations and International Response

Analyses suggest multiple motivations behind Israel's actions, including revenge, domestic political pressures, and a broader goal of reclaiming deterrence or pressuring Hamas through civilian suffering6. The brutality, documented publicly through videos of destruction and humiliation of Palestinians, has been criticized as lacking accountability, with soldiers appearing to act with impunity6. International bodies, including the UN and WHO, have condemned the violence, with UN experts urging immediate intervention to prevent what they describe as an unfolding genocide, citing patterns of genocidal conduct2. The blockade and military tactics have drawn accusations of war crimes, with calls for states to move beyond rhetoric to enforceable action24.

Conclusion

The war in Gaza has descended into a state of savagery, characterized by indiscriminate violence, deliberate starvation, and systematic displacement of civilians. The humanitarian crisis, described as beyond atrocious by UN officials, continues to deteriorate amidst international alarm but insufficient action8. The situation remains a moral and humanitarian challenge, with the survival of Gaza's population hanging in a precarious balance.

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