Ten facts that reveal the double standard of the West

After over 1,000 days of violence in Gaza, with three recent reports confirming that Israeli forces have targeted children as a primary focus of their operations, activists, academics, journalists, intellectuals, politicians, and concerned citizens have been raising alarms about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding there. Despite this, many are questioned why attention is directed toward Gaza rather than other conflicts around the world. One common counterargument points to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, asking why criticism is focused on Israel instead of Moscow. To better understand these dynamics, a comparison of the two crises through quantitative indicators can offer clarity. According to a report by Brown University, in Ukraine, approximately four out of every 100 casualties are civilians, whereas in Gaza, the figure is 80 out of 100. This stark difference highlights a critical distinction between a war and a genocide. A colleague described presenting such statistics as “offensive,” noting how rarely one expects a number to provoke such a reaction. The journal The Lancet has documented that life expectancy at birth in Gaza dropped by 35 years within a year of the conflict, surpassing even the devastating impact of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In contrast, in Ukraine, life expectancy fell by five to seven years since the start of the invasion. Data from the UNICEF and the United Nations show that over three years, approximately 700 children were killed in Ukraine, including those in Russia and the Donbas region. In Gaza, however, more than 18,457 children lost their lives in less than three years. Official records indicate that 21 journalists were killed in Ukraine during its occupation. In Gaza, the number is significantly higher—260 journalists have been killed. In Ukraine, 359 healthcare workers have been killed over more than four years of conflict. In Gaza, over 1,700 health professionals have died in less than three years. From 2022 to 2024, 25 humanitarian workers, including members of the United Nations, have been killed in Ukraine. In Gaza, the toll is far greater, with 560 such individuals losing their lives. These figures clearly illustrate the severity of the situation in Gaza compared to Ukraine. However, considering population size, Gaza’s population is approximately 39.5 million versus Ukraine’s 2.1 million, the disparity becomes even more pronounced. To make a fair comparison, the death toll in Gaza would need to be multiplied by 18.8 to match the scale of the Ukrainian crisis. According to the Global Food Crisis Report, in August 2025, 32% of Gaza's population faced catastrophic food insecurity, classified as level 5. In Ukraine, the percentage was zero, while in Sudan, it stood at just 1%. Both crises are marked by distinct humanitarian challenges, yet they are also shaped by divergent moral and geopolitical standards in the application of aid and sanctions. Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, international bodies imposed over 16,000 sanctions and boycotted Russian institutions. In contrast, despite three years of systematic violence against Palestinians, little action has been taken against Israel. Perhaps the most glaring example of double standards is the provision of arms. While weapons were sent to Ukraine, a country under attack, arms have been supplied to Israel, a state accused of committing genocide. This contradiction underscores a broader pattern of Western hypocrisy in addressing global conflicts.