January 27, 2024

Wars are never necessary: Gaza is the best example

This short Lancet piece by Souza, Buss, and Alcazar notes that since the Gaza war began in October 2023, “nothing has been resolved and all impasses remain. The costs of lives lost and survivors’ lives destroyed forever are immense. The billions of dollars spent on killing so far could have saved lives, fed and immunised people, recovered the malnourished, built equitable systems, and provided essential medicines in many parts of the world.” They draw our attention to a recent BBC article that describes the demographics and patterns of killings and comparisons to past, unsuccessful bombardments from Syria and Iraq back to Vietnam. It is yet another appeal to “(health) professionals and people of goodwill worldwide to advocate in defence of life, which means repelling any war and urging that health be a bridge to peace. ”

Lancet piece: https://www-sciencedirect-com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/science/article/pii/S0140673624000138

BBC article: https://www-bbc-co-uk.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/news/world-middle-east-67764664