Podcast
Two months later and without productive negotiations in sight, we have already passed a break in the truce to the resumption of conflict in the Gaza Strip. Listen here the last episode of Podcast the world at your feet with Joana Ricarte, professor at the University of Coimbra, specializing in Middle East affairs
Already passed more than two months Since the Israelite forces broke the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and there is no major prospects that the two parts reach a consensus to re-landing the weapons. Even before the end of the truce, Israel blocked the entry of aid to Gaza on March 2, and the siege caused the humanitarian situation to be further degraded. With continuous attacks and hunger scourge, The number of dead does not stop increasing.
The first phase of the ceasefire was in force between January 19 and March 2. Only Telavive and the Palestinian terrorist movement did not reach an agreement on the next step and on March 18 ,. The decision was justified by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with the need to release hostages still captive.
“What Hamas It is clearly blackmailIt is a horrible use of people’s lives to press a state. Hamas is contributing to extreme all Israeli societybecause Benjamin Netanyahu instrumentalizes this discourse to convince people that there is an ontological insecurity of their existence, of their continuity as an identity group, ”says Joana Ricarte, an expert in international relations.
Israel imposed a total siege in early March, preventing food, medicines, shelters and other essential goods. As a consequence, One in five Palestinians hungryaccording to the United Nations. There was a lot of pressure, especially from humanitarian organizations, so that Israel would let some help – as it controls all the borders of the territory. But Only last Wednesday did the blockade interrupted: the UN confirmed that it began to distribute the equivalent of No enclave.
“International pressure [para pôr fim ao cerco] It should have been a long time ago and long before this, ”says the professor at the University of Coimbra, specializing in Middle East affairs.“ The reaction of the international community was light, insufficient and will not stop the humanitarian catastrophe. Ninety aid trucks, as the UN has said, is a drop of water in an ocean of needs“. Especially because before the war,” 500 trucks of humanitarian aid entered a day, “he adds.
Since the beginning of the offensive, 19 months ago, Israeli troops They killed more than 53,000 Palestiniansone third of which (18 thousand) children, according to data from the Ministry of Health of Gaza – controlled by Hamas – considered legitimate by the UN. Among people who died, are missing and fled since October 2023, the territory lost about 7% of its populationpassing from.
“What is happening in Gaza It is clearly an ethnic cleaning. In fact, the use of the term ‘ethnic cleaning’ in relation to Israel-Palestin is not even new. Forced displacement and the imposition of living conditions Impossible was long documented by serious historians, including Israelites”Joana Ricarte analyzes.” Now it’s quite clear that. “
And that of genocide? “It has a specific legal framework from the point of view of proof of intentionality that was built at the Geneva Convention as a posthumous crime. Only the intentionality of genocide is proved after it occurred. The problem is that, to prove it, Israel will have to open the borders, let in independent international observers, let in media independent ”.
For this reason, the researcher also explains, “from a political point of view we cannot yet speak of genocide, but It’s more than obvious“.” In the future, when our children study the 21st century in the secondary, the history book will say ‘The Palestinian genocide’ [em Gaza]. I have no doubt. ”
This episode was led by journalist Mara Tribuna and featured the technical edition of João Luís Amorim. The world at your feet It is the weekly podcast of the Express International Editorial. The conduct of the debate is rotating between journalists Ana França, Hélder Gomes, Mara Tribuna and Pedro Cordeiro. Subscribe and listen to more episodes.
