The Guardian view on Gaza’s devastation: don’t look away. See the bigger picture too | Editorial

As Israel pursues Hamas, the horrifying cost to civilians demands our attention. The ramifications don't end there

We cannot and must not look away from what is happening in Gaza. Half its population was forced from the north by merciless bombardment; now the Israel Defense Forces' attacks upon the south have intensified and dozens of tanks have entered. Adults and children alike anticipate their deaths. More than 15,900 people in Gaza have been killed already, the vast majority of them women and children, according to Palestinian officials. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has directed the military to act with increasing force" in its pursuit of Hamas, this time facing an even larger, denser population in even more desperate circumstances.

The IDF says its concern for civilians is evinced by its evacuation orders. Given the lack of power and connectivity, even the most assiduous would struggle to keep up with complex and fast-changing instructions - and this is a hungry, exhausted, grieving and traumatised population, many of whom have already moved multiple times. In any case, there is nowhere to go: Safe places have no water, no sanitation, are often not safe anyway ... They are not safe in hospitals, they are not safe in shelters," JamesElder, a Unicef spokesperson, said on Monday.

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