THIS is with reference to the editorial ‘Weaponising hunger’ (May 4). The fact of the matter is that Israel, pampered by the countries that supply arms to it, is so arrogant and tyrant that it blatantly commits war crimes. What can be a more serious war crime than to bomb civilians in shelter camps and to block humanita-rian aid to them?

In this traumatic situation, the worst sufferers happen to be the children. It is really heart-rending to see their skeletal bodies. They are dying of hunger due to the continuous blockade of food and water, but the so-called civilised world has chosen to be a silent spectator.

Sadly, Human Rights Watch and the Geneva Conventions have utterly failed to prevent the civilians from the atrocities let loose by Israel in Gaza on a daily basis. Starvation is a purely humanitarian issue that evokes empathy in every heart, but the callous Israeli government in its war frenzy is using starvation as a weapon. It should remember the historical fact that Jews were persecuted by Nazi Germans, not Palestinians.

Reason dictates and justice demands that Israeli government officials, especially the prime minister, must be tried for war crimes. The world community must realise its responsibility in this regard, and put due pressure on Israel to lift its blockade of humanitarian aid immediately.

Prof Sarwar Pathan
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2025