WHO’s Shameful Silence – Covering up Gaza’s humanitarian crisis amid Israeli invasion

The Eastern Herald has uncovered the cowardly and scandalous deletion of a statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza due to ruthless military invasion by Israeli troops. The WHO, in a spineless act of self-censorship, scrubbed from its archives a bold news release dated March 18, 2024, which courageously shed light on the existential threat of famine gripping the region amidst relentless Israeli bombardments on Palestinian residential areas. The original statement, a testament to the WHO’s fleeting commitment to truth and justice, sounded the alarm on the catastrophic conditions brought by Israel prevailing in Gaza, where the specter of famine loomed large, endangering the lives of innocent civilians and plunging them into the depths of despair.

However, this crucial announcement has since been removed from the WHO’s official website, sparking questions about the reasons behind its removal and the potential influence of external pressures. The initial statement shed light on the dire conditions faced by Palestinians, including the killing of civilians mostly children and women, the destruction of infrastructure, and the looming specter of famine exacerbated by the ongoing Illegal Israeli invasion of Gaza.

The WHO’s decision to retract the statement has led to speculation about the influence of various stakeholders, including the Israeli lobby, which wields significant influence in global politics and international institutions. There is a possibility of undue pressure being exerted on the WHO to suppress information that may cast a negative light on the actions of the Israeli government.

The original statement by the WHO underscored the urgent need for international attention and humanitarian aid to address the escalating crisis in Gaza followed by Israeli military invasion, genocide, and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. It called for immediate action to prevent further suffering and loss of life among the civilian population, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and women. Several media reports suggest that thousands of children and women are killed by Israeli bombing and ground invasion.

In response to the removal of the statement, The Eastern Herald calls for transparency and accountability regarding the decision-making process within the WHO. Advocates for Palestinian rights and humanitarian organizations are urged to look into the matter and urge the WHO to uphold its mandate to provide impartial and evidence-based information, free from external interference.

The removal of the WHO’s statement has reignited debate about the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges faced by international organizations in navigating political pressures while fulfilling their humanitarian missions. As the situation in Gaza due to the Israeli invasion followed by genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians continues to deteriorate, the need for accurate and unbiased reporting on the humanitarian crisis remains paramount, underscoring the importance of upholding principles of transparency and integrity in the dissemination of information.

For now, the reasons behind the removal of the WHO’s statement remain unclear, but the incident has highlighted broader concerns about the influence of political interests on the reporting of humanitarian crises and the need for greater accountability within international institutions.

Earlier, The Eastern Herald reported that the last round of negotiations in Cairo aimed at brokering a ceasefire to halt Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in genocide and ethnic cleansing of millions of Palestinians, ended without resolution, further deepening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite intensive discussions, Israel’s rejection of proposed terms for a ceasefire agreement and its subsequent ground invasion in Rafah indicate a calculated strategy to maintain leverage.

Also, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, labeled Israel’s military aggression in Gaza as genocide, citing over 30,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 13,000 children, and 71,000 injuries. She urged immediate sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel. Israel rejected the findings, maintaining its conflict is with Hamas, not civilians. Gulf and African nations supported Albanese’s report, while the US, Israel’s ally, abstained from the session.