Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Israel
Delegate Name: Krishna Mano
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
Famine in Conflict Zones
Israel
Krishna Mano
City High Middle School
In the midst of the various conflicts that plague the world, every nation continues to face the issue of food insecurity and, in some cases, famine. In the status quo, Israel encounters unrelenting threats and attacks from at least five adversaries in the Middle Eastern region. When we live in a world of such hostility, Israel knows that it is essential, now more than ever, to refocus our commitments to protect access to nutritious food for everyone. We strongly affirm promoting food security, especially in areas of combat, and urge our fellow members of the FAO to join our standpoint.
Historically, Israel has supported all international law regarding starvation as a method of warfare, whether it be intentional or not. Apart from the guidelines in Customary International Humanitarian Law including Rule 53 (Starvation as a Method of Warfare) and Rule 55 (Access for Humanitarian Relief to Civilians in Need), Israel has also gone a step ahead by outlining specifications for preventing famine from occurring in conflict zones through the Israeli Manual on the Laws of War. The document explains that the prohibition of starvation “clearly implies that the city’s inhabitants must be allowed to leave the city during a siege”. During all Israeli military operations, the government not only informs city residents of an oncoming siege, but also attempts to provide access and entry into neighboring regions that are relatively more safe, inherently prioritizing the lives of civilians.
Ever since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian nationalist terrorist organization Hamas committed atrocious crimes, including the inhumane murder of children and the brutal rape of women, on several Israeli kibbutzim on the border of the Gaza Strip, Israel has continued to maintain national security operations in accordance with international famine laws. After all, in accordance with Rule 55 of Customary International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian aid remains a top priority for our military as we face these turbulent times in which terrorist organizations wreak havoc across the Middle East. Despite the inefficacy of current governmental systems and intergovernmental organizations present in the Gaza Strip, Israel contributes the highest amount of aid to the region. To date, Israel has used over 20,00 trucks to deliver over 375,000 tons of aid including 240,960 tons of food, 27,760 tons of water, and 19,510 tons of medical supplies.
However, due to the vague wording and archaic policies of these aforementioned treaties that Israel has signed, we strongly urge the development of a more updated set of guidelines, one that thoroughly represents and restructures the disorder in today’s society. As a nation that has proven to be a victim of this chaos, we seek to bring our expertise on this topic to our fellow members of the FAO and lead these discussions to ensure humanitarian safety and assistance supersedes all violent activity committed by terrorist groups and nations alike.
