In a deeply emotional briefing at the United Nations, Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a medical practitioner, recounted the harrowing experiences she witnessed in Gaza.

Her testimony, delivered on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis and the global community's inadequate response.

Dr. Haj-Hassan's voice trembled as she shared the atrocities she had seen, emphasizing her humanity and the profound suffering of the Palestinian people. "I want the whole world to know that I’m a human being at the end, I’m not pen on paper. I’m not anonymous. I’m a human being created by God," she declared, her words a poignant reminder of the personal toll of the conflict.

Reflecting on the past 14 months, Dr. Haj-Hassan described the situation in Gaza as the "most live-streamed and documented genocide in history." She accused global institutions and countries of failing to respond effectively to severe breaches of international law, human rights violations, and war crimes. Eyewitnesses reported crimes that, in any other context, would have led to sanctions, yet the global response remains one of impotence.

Dr. Haj-Hassan also criticized the widespread propaganda campaigns that justify the unjustifiable, silencing and discrediting those who attempt to expose Israel’s crimes. She lamented the systemic neglect of Palestinian voices in discussions about their plight, highlighting the barriers that devalue Palestinian lives. "Our Palestinian colleagues are not here today because the system that currently exists doesn’t recognize the value of Palestinian life," she said.

The doctor warned that the precedent set in Gaza poses a broader threat to the rule of law globally, citing the spread of violence to neighboring Lebanon. She urged the international community to act, not only out of solidarity with fellow humans but also to prevent the spillover of violence. "If solidarity with your fellow humans is not enough of a reason to act, think about how this is going to spill over," she cautioned.

Dr. Haj-Hassan's testimony underscored the urgency of the situation in Gaza, where Israel's genocidal war has killed over 44,300 people, most of them women and children, and injured over 104,900. The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.

Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.

Dr. Haj-Hassan's powerful words serve as a call to action for the global community. She emphasized that the responsibility to aid Gaza extends beyond the Axis of Resistance to the entire nation. Abandoning this responsibility, she warned, equates to complicity in the genocide being committed against Gaza. Her testimony is a stark reminder of the need for courage to fight a corrupted system and the importance of standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)