By Solomon Alaka
As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, a moral and spiritual plea echoes across the world—from religious leaders, human rights advocates, and compassionate individuals alike—urging Israeli authorities to prioritize mercy over retribution.
This appeal comes in the wake of a growing consensus among global humanitarian and faith-based bodies that the innocent—especially children—must not be punished for the actions of armed groups. While acknowledging Israel’s right to security, advocates call for the protection of non-combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking to the Security Council on Tuesday, made an urgent demand: “The entry of assistance must be restored immediately — the safety of UN personnel and humanitarian partners must be guaranteed — and UN agencies must be allowed to work in full respect of humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence” (UN.org).
Since early March 2025, Israel’s blockade has halted nearly all aid deliveries into Gaza, including food, fuel, and medicine. According to the Washington Post, aid kitchens have shuttered, prices of basic food items have spiked over 1,000%, and over 420,000 residents have lost access to daily meals, with many now burning waste for cooking (WashingtonPost.com).
More than 52,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began—many of them women and children. The UN warns of worsening malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and mass civilian displacement, with 90% of the population now uprooted from their homes.
Faith-based organizations and human rights defenders worldwide are unified in one message: the children of Gaza—many of whom have known only war—must not be collateral damage in the pursuit of security or justice. The international community must push for:
- Immediate restoration of aid corridors.
- Protection of humanitarian workers.
- A sustainable ceasefire leading to long-term peace.
This is not a call for political compromise—it is a call for human dignity, grounded in universally accepted values of compassion, mercy, and justice.
If peace is to be meaningful, it must begin by recognizing the humanity of the most vulnerable. In the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “This is a moral crisis. The eyes of the world — and of history — are watching.”
