Missing in action on Israel-Hamas conflict

THE EDITOR, Madam:

There can be no doubt in well-thinking minds that the response of Israel to the Hamas attack on October 7 has been overwhelming and beyond the pale. The response of Israel has been catastrophic in its impact on the civilian population of Gaza. An estimated 7,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with an estimated 13,000 injured and two million ordered to be displaced. High-level visit to the region by the US president has only resulted in limited humanitarian aid being allowed through Egypt.

As a result of the humanitarian crisis, several nation states, at the 10th special emergency session of the United Nations, have moved a resolution calling for the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations. Jamaica was nowhere to be found. Jamaica was conspicuously absent.

The resolution was non-binding. It restricted itself to calling for the upholding of international humanitarian law and international human-rights law. Yet still, Jamaica was conspicuously absent. Even Jews recognise the excesses of Israel’s response. They gathered in Grand Central Terminal for a sit-in, calling on the Israeli government for an immediate ceasefire, #ceasefirenow and end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.

In this David and Goliath battle, Goliath is slaying the bejesus out of the Palestinian women and children, whose electricity supply, water supply, sanitation, food and medical supplies have been inhumanely and illegally cut off. If these are not war crimes, they certainly are beyond the pale.

Israel is not with clean hands in the conflict, and it is very clear that they have no intention of turning the other cheek. World leaders are falling over themselves to stand in solidarity with Israel, including the Indian prime minister of the United Kingdom, who seems far removed from the storied past of his own country’s imperialism and colonialism. Even our own prime minister! Palestinians are not Hamas!

Time has certainly come for an immediate ceasefire. Jamaican’s foreign policy is on the line, because in a moment of great human suffering when our voices need to be heard –as it was heard, and led against the apartheid regime in South Africa – Jamaica was missing in action. AWOL! Ran for cover. It is ignominious! Egregious!

ARNALDO BROWN

Attorney-at-Law

Former Minister of State

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

Foreign Trade

arnaldobrownandcompany@

gmail.com