After more than seven months of war and the near-total collapse of Gaza’s infrastructure, Western allies have begun to voice rare warnings to Israel. The UK, France and Canada issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid and threatening potential sanctions if the siege continues. Yet for Palestinians trapped in the enclave, these words arrive late—long after the bombs, starvation, and disease have devastated their lives.

The statement criticised Israel’s denial of aid as a violation of international law, but stopped short of demanding an immediate ceasefire. Meanwhile, Gaza remains on the brink of collapse. The World Health Organization has described the Strip as a territory where two million people are now facing starvation, following nearly three months of complete blockade.

Palestinians, enduring the collapse of medical services and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods, are left questioning the weight of international law when their lives have been treated as disposable. Calls for targeted sanctions ring hollow for many, who see these as symbolic gestures in the face of mass death and displacement.

While Western governments debate consequences, Gaza’s civilians continue to suffer the consequences of a war that has stripped them of safety, dignity, and the bare necessities of life.