Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, has accused Israel of committing genocide against innocent civilians in Gaza and the US of having double standards.
He noted that over 4,000 people, including 1,700 children, have been killed, and thousands could still be trapped under the rubble.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Barghouti made a damning charge against Israel, asserting that the siege on Gaza targets not just Hamas but all Palestinians, with the aim of dehumanising them and creating an atmosphere of hatred. He cited a tragic incident in the US where a six-year-old was killed, suggesting parallels between how Palestinians are dehumanised and the consequences that follow.
Barghouti criticised US support for Israel, stating that the US president has been advocating for Israel's demands, including allowing Palestinians in Gaza to flee to Egypt.
He deemed this demand as "dangerous" and warned it could lead to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, creating a catastrophic situation. He argued that Israel's demand to prevent Palestinians from returning to Gaza would result in a crisis three times worse than the Palestinian Nakba of 1948 when over 900,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from their land.
As US President Joe Biden prepared to visit Israel amidst escalating conflict, Barghouti called on him not to allow such "crimes" to occur.
He expressed concern about the US's mixed signals regarding its support for Ukraine against Russia while advocating Israel's demands.
Barghouti pointed out that while the US supplied Ukraine with weapons, humanitarian aid, and artillery in the face of Russian occupation, in the case of Gaza, they are deploying troops and aircraft carriers against the occupied territory. He urged the US to avoid involvement in these "war crimes," which he believed aligned with Israel's objectives to maximise Palestinian casualties and carry out eviction and ethnic cleansing in the region.
Barghouti emphasised the dire situation faced by Gazans due to Israel's siege, depriving them of essentials like food, water, medicine, and electricity. This blockade poses a serious risk to Palestinians, especially those in hospitals, and could lead to an epidemic in Gaza.