"Unspeakable": Doctors Back from Gaza Say Death Toll "Much Higher," Push Harris, Biden for Ceasefire

[Uncle Joe]

We speak to two doctors who are part of a group of 45 U.S. doctors, surgeons and nurses who have volunteered in Gaza since October 7 and wrote an open letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, demanding an immediate ceasefire and an international arms embargo of Israel. The group includes evidence of a much higher death toll than is usually cited: more than 92,000 people, which represents over 4% of Gaza’s population. The doctors write, “With only marginal exceptions, everyone in Gaza is sick, injured, or both. Israel’s continued, repeated displacement of the malnourished and sick population of Gaza, half of whom are children, to areas with no running water or even toilets available is absolutely shocking.” The conditions in Gaza are “unacceptable,” and “people know this is wrong but no one is speaking up,” says Dr. Thalia Pachiyannakis, an obstetrician and gynecologist who volunteered at the Nasser Medical Complex. “We all saw evidence of a death toll that is certainly much higher than what is reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health,” adds Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon who volunteered at the European Hospital.

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[Dave Bowman]

1. What a nightmare!

And the pukes welcomed the genocidal maniac with opened arms. I hope that eventually he won't be able to travel to any country on earth without risking being arrested.

[brush]

2. Agreed. warmonger Netanyahu is a war criminal. He wants the killing to continue...

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2024, 11:41 AM - Edit history (1)

so he can't be prosecuted for corrupttion as long as it goes on.

His is not a pleasant future as either Israel with try him, or another country will capture him if he somehow leaves Israel.

[AloeVera]

4. As much as I despise Netanyahu...

He is merely a vile symptom, not the root cause of this malignancy. Making him the scapegoat, while no one deserves it more, is not going to lead to any change or solutions. The ugly truth is his war policy and actions are supported by the Israeli people. It's a much bigger problem than just one genocidal abhorrent man. There is no recognition of Palestinians as equal humans so little awareness or understanding of their immense suffering. Fifty-seven years of being occupiers oppressing Palestinians, isolating and marinating in a strange brew of supremacy and victimhood and this is the result. End the occupation.

[brush]

5. I was under the impression that there is large percentage of the Israeli people who are anti-war...

judging from the massive protests that continue in Israel.

Is that not true? I do know that others on the right/Likud are complicit in the killing as well.

And so are the Hamas leaders.

[AloeVera]

6. I wish it were true, that would be heartening.

You are correct that there are protests against the war. It's a fairly recent phenomenon in the war timeline. I don't know what percentage of all Israelis are represented in those protests, i.e. how popular is the "anti-war" sentiment. Curious to find out.

But here's the point. By far, those protests are calling for a ceasefire because they want the hostages back and they correctly understand that Netanyahu does not prioritize that goal. A very worthy goal, but very different from wanting a ceasefire because you oppose the killing of civilians, the starvation of kids, or the many war crimes committed by Israel. If it were not for the hostages, there would be no protest, or very little. What there might be would be very quickly squashed. Freedom of speech expressing criticism of war policy or sympathy for Palestinians is not welcome by the authorities. People go to jail, in fact.

As for Hamas complicity, I never bought into the "human shield" perversion of IHL by Israel, nor think that Hamas ever wanted the total destruction of Gaza as a livable place, or the murder, starvation and future diminishment of its children. You have to be deep in demonization and not fully cognizant of IDF war crimes and atrocities to believe that.

[Beastly Boy]

7. A very loaded set of criteria.

You "don't know what percentage of all Israelis are represented in those protests", but you are positive that a mention of a large percentage of the Israeli people who are anti-war is untrue. In fact, you presume, admittedly out of ignorance on the subject, that "If it were not for the hostages, there would be no protest, or very little."

You expect Israelis to want cease fire because they "oppose the killing of civilians, the starvation of kids, or the many war crimes committed by Israel" only, while denigrating any sentiment by Israelis who want a cease fire because they want the hostages returned.

Two textbook examples of how framing is to be used in the service of prejudice.

And while I admit that I am no expert on international law, I doubt very much that anyone buying into it or not creates any sense of obligation to change it.

Article 8
War crimes

1. The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of war crimes in particular when committed
as part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes.

2. For the purpose of this Statute, “war crimes” means:
.........

(b) Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international
armed conflict, within the established framework of international law, namely,
any of the following acts:
............

(xxiii) Utilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to
render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military
operations

https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/2024-05/Rome-Statute-eng.pdf

[AloeVera]

3. The silence is deafening.

The complicity nauseating.

Let us in the West never speak again of our belief in human rights and sanctity of all life, or insist on applying international law on everyone but ourselves. We are the worst hypocrites.