It is time to save the children

Health officials report that 16 Palestinian children have died of starvation and dehydration in Gaza in recent days.

- Jesse Jackson

UNICEF warns that the number will increase rapidly with the million children in Gaza suffering from inadequate food and water, horrible sanitation, and spreading disease. The 30,500 already reported as dead in Gaza from Israel’s attacks, the majority women and children, are only the beginning of what may become an unimaginable death toll. A month ago, the International Court of Justice called on Israel to take “Immediate and effective measures to protect Palestinians from the risk of genocide” by “ensuring sufficient humanitarian assistance.” Since then, the situation has grown more dire, not less.

The Biden administration has begun to recognize the scope of the horror. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking in Selma on the 59th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” a major milestone in the civil rights movement, issued the most forceful statement to date, calling on Israel to do more for the people In Gaza. “We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration.” “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.”