Gaza Herald — Civilian suffering in Gaza and other modern conflicts is increasingly being transformed from a consequence of war into a strategic weapon, according to an analysis published by British newspaper The Observer.
The report, translated by SANA news agency, examined Gaza alongside the wars in Ukraine and Sudan, highlighting the rising toll on civilians and arguing that international statements alone have failed to provide meaningful protection.
In Gaza, the report pointed to the extraordinary scale of killing and destruction, citing UN estimates that more than 80% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed and that at least 60% of Palestinians have lost their homes.
The analysis argued that the enormous civilian toll across contemporary conflicts reflects a dangerous erosion of protections intended to shield civilians from warfare. It also pointed to evidence and allegations of civilians being deliberately targeted, warning that such conduct could amount to war crimes under international law.
The report traced the evolution of civilian protection through the 1949 Geneva Conventions and subsequent protocols, which established fundamental protections for civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflict.
It argued that protecting civilians requires more than waiting for ceasefires, calling instead for stronger international protection mechanisms, greater accountability and practical measures capable of preventing civilian harm while conflicts are still underway.
The article also highlighted the importance of locally led humanitarian responses, pointing to Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms as an example of communities organising to provide food, medicine and other essential assistance when conventional humanitarian systems struggle to reach civilians.
Regarding Gaza, the analysis called for an end to military support that enables continued Israeli attacks and advocated greater international pressure, including sanctions, to protect Palestinian civilians and halt further destruction.
The report concluded that the continued killing of civilians and destruction of communities in Gaza not only devastate individual lives but undermine human dignity and the possibility of rebuilding a society shattered by war.
