Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
26 May 2025 | 14:45 CAT

Gaza’s lifelines are under fire — as Israel weaponises aid and targets healthcare workers, Palestinians face starvation, displacement, and grief beyond measure.

After a short-lived ceasefire, Israel resumed its brutal military campaign on Gaza on 18 March. In less than a month, over 1 000 Palestinians have been killed, with the toll increasing each day as bombardments intensify and humanitarian conditions worsen.

In the early hours of Friday, an Israeli airstrike on the Shujaiiya neighbourhood claimed 20 lives. This comes as Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) expand ground operations into southern Gaza’s Old City, forcibly evicting residents from their homes under threat. In a chilling notice, the IOF issued a warning demanding civilians evacuate, offering no guarantees for their safety or return.

Aid as a Weapon of War

Commenting on the current developments, Islamic scholar and analyst Moulana Ebrahim Moosa spoke to Radio Islam International, exposing the grim reality of aid manipulation. He said, “Israel has allowed in only 100 trucks — a mere PR stunt — which equates to one meal every three days for a family of five. This aid, by design, excludes over 400,000 Palestinians in Gaza City and the north.”

He further warned that Israel is now leveraging aid distribution to deepen its control: “The new campaign requires Palestinians to collect aid from Israeli military checkpoints. This is not humanitarian relief — it’s a military trap aimed at pushing Palestinians further south to achieve Israeli territorial objectives.”

Cracks in Israeli Plans and Dangerous Collaborators

Adding another layer to the evolving crisis, Moulana Moosa noted the resignation of Jack Wood, CEO of a controversial humanitarian foundation backed by Israeli and American interests. “Wood resigned citing violations of international law. The foundation is now under investigation in Switzerland. This could render Israel’s plan meaningless.”

Moosa also revealed troubling developments on the ground: “A known criminal, Yasser Abu Shabab — with a record of drug and theft offences and ties to ISIS — remained armed in Rafah. He looted aid and resold it at extortionate prices. Disturbingly, he has now appeared in uniform, possibly as part of a new Israeli strategy to use criminal gangs in distributing aid.”

Jerusalem Day and the Assault on al-Aqsa

Tuesday marked what Israel terms Jerusalem Day — commemorating its 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem. “It’s traditionally accompanied by provocative flag marches and mass stormings of Masjid al-Aqsa,” Moosa stated. “This day is often a flashpoint for racist violence, and we expect the same this year.”

The Martyrdom of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s Family

Among the most heart-wrenching stories is that of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital. She was treating injured children when the bodies of her own family arrived. Nine of her ten children were killed, and two remain trapped beneath the rubble.

Highlighting her resilience, Moulana Moosa noted, “She gave birth just six months ago, yet returned to serve Gaza’s children. Despite losing almost her entire family, she continues working.”

He added: “Twelve of Gaza’s top medical professionals were assassinated in one week. This is a calculated effort to dismantle society’s pillars. Dr. Najjar is a Hafidha of the Qur’an, and several of her martyred children were also memorizers of the Holy Qur’an. Since the tragedy, she has spoken to no one but Allah.”

Selling Sentiment for Survival

As hunger deepens, residents are parting with their most cherished possessions. Gaza’s gold sellers, once vibrant with family heirlooms and wedding gifts, now serve as grim venues for desperate exchanges.

“A woman came to sell the engagement ring from her martyred fiancé,” shared a gold seller, Abu Jumma. “Another sold a bracelet — a last memory from her late husband — to buy flour.”

Even the gold traders, many of whom have had their stores destroyed, are now reliant on food kitchens to survive. “The stories break me,” said Jumma. “And yet, I too wait in line for food.”

The situation in Gaza continues to expose not only the scale of human loss, but the quiet, determined resistance of a people whose very survival is a form of defiance. As Israel weaponizes starvation and aid, Gaza’s civilians are forced to navigate the sharp edges of war, grief, and desperation — all under the silent gaze of the international community.

Listen to the Palestine Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Muallimah Shakirah Hunter and Moulana Ebrahim Moosa .