[BLOG] GAZA: MAURITIUS MUST ACT

A holocaust is happening right before our eyes in Gaza while the world remains silent! Most hospitals, schools, supplies chains have been damaged or destroyed, while food, water, and gas supply to the population are reduced and often denied. People in GAZA ARE STARVING!

Mauritius is a small country but a strong democracy, and it is always fighting for human rights, development, and peaceful living for its citizens. We can now join other democracies around the world to unite in condemning this genocide, demanding a ceasefire AND SEEK PEACE.

THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE. 

The continued non-recognition of Palestine by Israel, its people living under siege for the last 50 years. The ‘imprisonment’ of the Palestinian people till today has denied their return to their land, and denied the 2-state solution, one being an independent Palestine. Israel cites the condemnable October 7 attack by Hamas, which killed 1,200 innocent Israelis. Hitler cited the takeover of the German economy by the Jews for his decision to continue eliminating all Jews from 1940 to 1945, until 5 million of them were criminally killed.

The USA advised Israel to continue the war, but ‘reduce the number of people killed’. Women, children, and civilians. So far, since October 7, in these weeks of the war, almost 40,000 Palestinians (more than half of them women and children, including babies) and about 1,200 people in Israel have been killed.

The USA and its President, Joe Biden, have now become responsible for all new deaths in Palestine. The USA, which vetoed the first ceasefire resolution, is the one providing money and arms to Israel. For his encouragement of the actions of a war criminal, Biden deserves our condemnation. Some weeks ago, Biden announced the premises for a ceasefire and an accord, but Israel did not follow, and the killing is continuing. Today itself, 70 people were killed when an Israeli missile hit a school.

Now, for a peaceful solution to this 75-year-old conflict: Biden, having spoken in favour of the 2-state solution, must now exert pressure to discuss and agree on the new frontiers and create an independent Palestine.

Many human groups have in the past launched a struggle (in some cases, a war) for their liberation and the establishment of an independent country. For example, the American War of Independence against the British. In India, the struggle for independence from Britain was led by Gandhi and Nehru. In the 20th century, African independence movements were witnessed, as a wave of struggles for independence from European/colonialist rule. For example, Kenya, led by Jomo Kenyatta, Algeria for its liberation from France, Mozambique and Angola for liberation from Portuguese rule, Malagasy nationalists revolted against the French from March 1947, Eritrea from being an Italian colony from 1890 to 1941, then having to struggle against domination by Ethiopia, Namibia against German rule, South Africa led by Nelson Mandela against internal apartheid rule—and so many others.

STEPS FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THIS 75-YEAR-OLD CONFLICT:-

·  Immediate ceasefire, both sides.

·  Release and return of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails

·  Control over the weapons of Hamas and withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza.

·  Negotiations and discussions must open to delimit each state and set its borders, with no reduction whatsoever of Israeli territory but the definition of a new Palestine.

·  This 2-state solution (Israel and Palestine) is THE ONLY SOLUTION for peaceful and just living. Israel was established in May 1948, will Palestine be established in 2024? Seventy-five years too late, but better late than never! After such an agreement, the UN will declare and recognize a new independent State of Palestine, with its airport, port, passports, and freedom of movement, to which all citizens of the world are entitled, and which most have in practice.

·   The reconstruction of Gaza and other areas can then begin.

 DR MICHAEL ATCHIA
                             
(Former UnitedNationsProgrammeDirector)

(For Democracy Watch Mauritius)