A Policy of Systemic Erasure

Last week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported, “Palestinians in Gaza are still hungry, still cannot reach medical care, and civilians are still being killed.”

On the same day, Israel (with support from Washington) kidnapped 430 civilians in international waters. In other words, piracy on the high seas. Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla— 57 vessels with 430 activists from dozens of countries bound for Gaza. The Israeli news outlet Haaretz admitted, all 430 people were “human rights activists, citizens of friendly countries under the supervision of government officials.”

Israeli forces blindfolded, stripped, humiliated, kicked, and beat the human rights activists. Haaretz revealed, “many of the participants of a Gaza-bound flotilla who were detained by Israel reported extreme violence, sexual humiliation and severe injuries at the hands of Israeli forces.” Israeli forces hospitalized 50 human rights activists. Dozens of activists reported rib, leg, and arm fractures.

To add insult to injury, Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir bullied the activists. He videotaped himself doing it and posted it on social media.

Haaretz reported, “Ben-Gvir is seen walking into the warehouse and waving an Israeli flag while yelling, ‘Welcome to Israel. We’re the landlords.’”

Hundreds of activists were “forced to kneel, heads touching the floor with their hands tied behind their backs, as loudspeakers played ‘Hatikva’ repeatedly.”

Israel (with complete support from Washington) will not allow anyone to see what they’re doing in Gaza. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) wrote, “Food insecurity remains widespread and severe [in Gaza].”

According to HRW, severe hunger is widespread in Gaza because, “Israeli authorities are undermining humanitarian lifelines.” Israel (with US support) is blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Haaretz reached the same conclusion. “The ‘catastrophic’ public health crisis in Gaza is worsening, due to Israeli restrictions on aid.”

Doctors Without Borders wrote, “the blocking of lifesaving supplies have destroyed conditions of life and amount to the collective punishment of the entire population.” Israel’s collective punishment of Gaza includes using water as a weapon of war.

Doctors Without Borders “has witnessed firsthand how access to water, sanitation and hygiene are being used against the whole population of Gaza in the genocide perpetrated by Israeli authorities.”

Physicians For Human Rights Israel (PHRI) said Israel is “dismantling the infrastructure that sustains civilian life.” It’s “a policy of extermination pursued through the systematic collapse of health, water, food, and shelter.” Washington approves the Israeli policy of blocking food, medical supplies, water, electricity, and aid from entering Gaza .

Washington supports the policy, despite the consequences for Palestinian children and mothers. According to PHRI, mothers in Gaza, “are raising infants in tents, bombed-out buildings, or outdoors, often without clean water, food, or medical care, all while remaining under constant threat of bombardment.”

The New York Times reported, “Israel has repeatedly violated the October 2025 cease-fire with almost daily airstrikes in Gaza.”

Israel can’t airstrike Gaza without daily weapon shipments from Washington. We are responsible. Taxpayer money pays for the weapons dropped on Gaza almost daily.

-Anton Porcari