Malta’s Silence on Gaza: A Betrayal of Our Values

From the bustling streets of Valletta to the quiet alleys of Mdina, the sun sets daily on the Maltese Islands, casting a warm glow over our historic architecture. Yet, as day turns to night, another sun sets elsewhere, one that casts a shadow of despair and destruction. In Gaza, the sun sets on a people trapped in an open-air prison, a humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding for decades, with no end in sight.

Genocide by Attrition: The Slow Burn in Gaza

Gaza, a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean, is home to over 2 million Palestinians, more than half of whom are refugees. Since 2007, Israel has maintained a blockade, restricting the movement of people and goods, and controlling Gaza’s airspace and sea access. This collective punishment, as the United Nations Human Rights Council has termed it, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, medicine, and electricity.

UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk, in his 2021 report, warned of a “genocide by attrition” in Gaza, a slow, incremental process of destruction that, while not involving mass killings, is no less deadly. The report highlights the impact of Israel’s blockade and frequent military offensives on Gaza’s civilian population, with children bearing the brunt of the suffering.

Ecocide in Gaza: The Price of Impunity

Gaza’s environmental degradation is often overlooked amidst the humanitarian crisis. Yet, the destruction of Gaza’s natural resources and ecosystem is a pressing concern. Israel’s military operations have targeted Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure, leaving the Strip’s 2 million inhabitants with barely any access to clean water or adequate sanitation.

Israel’s 2014 military offensive, Operation Protective Edge, destroyed or damaged 17,000 homes, 148 schools, and 15 hospitals. The environmental cost was staggering: 30% of Gaza’s farmland was destroyed, and 75,000 olive trees were uprooted or damaged. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that Gaza’s environmental degradation could render the Strip uninhabitable by 2020.

Yet, despite the scale of the destruction and the clear violation of international law, Israel faces little to no consequences. The international community’s inaction has emboldened Israel, creating a cycle of impunity that has allowed the crisis in Gaza to fester and worsen over the years.

Malta’s Silence: A Missed Opportunity for Leadership

Malta, with its proud history of humanitarianism and its strategic location in the Mediterranean, could play a significant role in ending the crisis in Gaza. Yet, successive Maltese governments have remained largely silent on the issue, preferring to maintain good relations with Israel at the expense of the Palestinian people.

In 2014, during Israel’s military offensive on Gaza, then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat refused to condemn Israel’s actions, instead calling for a ceasefire. This stance was criticized by human rights groups and members of the public, who argued that Malta had a moral obligation to speak out against the atrocities being committed in Gaza.

Malta’s silence is not just a missed opportunity for leadership; it is a betrayal of our island’s values and a failure to uphold our international obligations. As a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, Malta is legally bound to ensure that the principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality are upheld. Yet, in the case of Gaza, Malta has turned a blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinian people.

The Price of Impunity: A Call to Action**

The crisis in Gaza is a stark reminder of the price of impunity. Israel’s actions in Gaza have gone unpunished for too long, creating a dangerous precedent that has emboldened other states to commit similar atrocities. The international community’s inaction has allowed the crisis to fester and worsen, with no end in sight.

Malta, with its strategic location and proud history of humanitarianism, has a crucial role to play in ending the crisis in Gaza. We call on the Maltese government to break its silence and use its influence to pressure Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza and end its military occupation of Palestinian territories. We also call on the Maltese public to raise their voices and demand action from their government.

As the sun sets on Gaza, let us not remain silent. Let us use our voices, our influence, and our resources to demand an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people. Let us work towards a future where justice, peace, and dignity prevail, not just in Malta, but in Gaza and beyond.