TEHRAN (FNA)- Friday marked the fifth week of peaceful Palestinian protests along the Gaza border dubbed Great March of Return.
The death toll of those martyred since the start of the demonstrations in Gaza stands at 40. Two journalists were also killed. And UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov has called on Hamas and the Israeli army to restrain as the UN Security Council held an open debate on the region on Thursday.
Firstly, it’s the people of Gaza, and not any specific group, who have taken matters into their own hands, determined to restore their right for return and for freedom and self-determination. Secondly, the Zionist regime, which has killed 40 peaceful protesters and two journalists so far, cannot just defend its criminal conduct by saying ‘our troops only open fire in self-defence or to stop protesters attempting to breach the barrier separating the territory from Israel.’ Israel’s conduct is criminal, murderous and in violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Besides, the Palestinians protesters are unarmed – among them women and children – and pose no serious threat to the armed Israeli troops. It’s silly on the part of Tel Aviv to claim that Hamas has hijacked the protests for its own ends. These are popular protests by Palestinians and it’s impossible for Hamas to fabricate the video footages of 42 Palestinians and journalists who were murdered by Israeli troops in cold blood and under the watchful eyes of international media.
More so, the shooting of Palestinian children and women cannot be justified under any circumstances. It’s indeed outrageous for the usurper regime to shoot at children and women. It shouldn’t be allowed to escape international justice either. As put into question by the UN envoy: ‘How does the killing of a child in Gaza today help peace? It doesn’t! It fuels anger and breeds more killing.’ It will also make Palestinians more than ever determined to push ahead with their Great March of Return toward May 15 - and beyond.
As reported by the United Nations and humanitarian aid workers on the ground, these people are desperate for a way out of Gaza which has been under Israeli siege for more than ten years now. Israel doesn’t allow international humanitarian aid into the enclave, as a result of which Gaza is coming apart under the pressure of an explosive combination of negative humanitarian security and political-military factors. With no food, no aid and no jobs, this devastating decision pressures ordinary families who already struggle to make ends meet – the same families who are taking part in the Great March of Return for the fifth consecutive week.
It’s past time, therefore, for the UN to call on the Zionist regime to stop shooting these desperate families. The UN should immediately introduce a new mechanism that forces Tel Aviv to reopen the Gaza border to Palestinian life and international trade.
The use of live fire by Israeli troops to disperse protesters has come under increased international scrutiny in recent months since the March of Return began on 30 March. The UN should also force Israel to stop its indiscriminate use of force and live fire. This is not provocation, this is a genuine cry for international aid, support and protection. Their protest is also a call on all member states to join the UN in condemning Israel’s criminal actions and injustice.
As maintained by UN Envoy Nickolay Mladenov, “Gaza is an injustice. People should not live with borders they cannot cross, or waters they cannot navigate. We need practical, quick, effective and sustainable solutions.” However, he should keep in mind that this suffering, this injustice has nothing to do with the fact that Hamas was elected through a popular vote to rule Gaza. People elected Hamas to run their affairs and for this they are being punished by the Zionist regime. It is in fact the usurper regime which has invested in state terrorism, war, blockade and economic warfare at the expense of the Gaza population.
The March of Return is set to climax on May 15, when Palestinians mark 70 years of Israeli occupation of their motherland - a day they mark as the “Nakba” (catastrophe). This is also a day in which the Trump regime – the main ally of Israel in the Middle East - will cut the ribbon on its controversial new embassy in Jerusalem Al-Quds. A lot could be said about this wrong move, and a lot could go wrong on this day, which will be marked as yet another Nakba for the long-suffering people of Palestine. Are the Trumpsters truly incapable of shame?
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