“GAZA IS DESTROYED… NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT”
November 11, 2024Jan Egeland, a Norwegian diplomat and humanitarian, speaks about the worsening condition in Gaza.
“I’m really shaken to my core… Gaza is destroyed. There’s no other way to describe it.”
@camanpour
English Script:
Christiane Amanpour: So, you were last there, we last talked to you in Gaza, last February. So, it’s a time ago, and I just want to know from your, you know, bird’s eye view, how have things changed for the people?
Jan Egeland: It’s so much worse, I’m really shaken to my core, Christiane. I have been now in Gaza City all day today and in Khan Younis and Rafah yesterday, Gaza is destroyed. There’s no other way to describe it. It’s a densely populated urban area filled to the brim with refugees to start with, and it’s destroyed. There are tens of thousands of dead people and most of the families I meet, including my own Gaza Palestinian colleagues. They’ve been in, you know, chased around the map here ten times. They’ve lost their home, the home of their relatives, the home of their aunt, their uncle, etc., they are really on the bottom of the pit. This senseless war has to end. It is not self-defense as it’s claimed by Israel and its arms allies like the United States. This is unlawful destruction of a civilian society.
Christiane Amanpour: Okay, so let me ask you, because you mentioned the United States, there’s been an election, as you know, and Donald Trump has won. I want to know whether you think, I realize it’s early days, but based on the past, there will be a different approach by Trump than the Biden administration. If so, what?
Jan Egeland: Well, we got some humanitarian help from the Biden administration, but they were incapable of doing anything to end the violence. And also, the besiegement of the population here. Donald Trump has said, I will end this war, I will bring peace. He says he’s a forceful politician. I think he can assert pressure on the strongest party, which is Israel, and maybe he can work with Arab and other nations to make the Palestinian side come together, be coherent, recognize Israel, release the hostages so that not thousand or more children are killed, thousands of children are killed here in Gaza, and tens of thousands of other are starving.
