Original Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/the-mathematics-of-starvation-how-israel-caused-a-famine-in-gaza

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Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of the Article

A Root Cause Analysis is a method used to identify the underlying causes of a problem or an event. In this case, we will apply RCA to understand the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Problem Statement:
The Gaza Strip is facing a severe famine crisis due to Israel’s restrictions on food imports, leading to widespread malnutrition and starvation among its 2.1 million inhabitants.

Identifying the Symptoms:

• Widespread malnutrition and starvation
• Food shortages and scarcity
• High levels of poverty and unemployment

Identifying the Proximate Causes:

• Israel’s restrictions on food imports
• Israeli blockade of Gaza
• Limited access to resources, including water and electricity

Digging Deeper – Identifying the Underlying Causes:

• Lack of Palestinian autonomy: The Palestinian people have limited control over their own territory, economy, and resources.
• Israeli occupation and military control: Israel’s military presence in Gaza and its surrounding areas restricts movement and access to resources.
• International community’s failure to intervene: The international community has failed to effectively address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, despite repeated warnings and appeals from human rights organizations.

Root Causes:

1. Historical and systemic injustices: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in historical and systemic injustices, including displacement, occupation, and apartheid.
2. Power imbalance: The power dynamic between Israel and Palestine is highly unequal, with Israel holding significant military, economic, and diplomatic advantages.
3. Lack of international accountability: The international community has failed to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, despite repeated human rights abuses.

Conclusion:
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a complex issue with multiple underlying causes. The root causes identified through this RCA are historical and systemic injustices, power imbalance, and lack of international accountability. Addressing these root causes will require a fundamental shift in the way the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is approached, including recognition of Palestinian autonomy, an end to Israeli occupation, and effective international intervention.

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Fallacies Identified

1. Emotive Language: The article uses emotive language to describe the situation in Gaza, such as “starving children” and “humanitarian crisis”. While this language is attention-grabbing and evocative, it can also be seen as manipulative and emotively charged.
2. Loaded Questions: The article asks loaded questions, such as “How could Israel’s government possibly justify starving an entire population?” This type of question assumes that the Israeli government is indeed responsible for starving the population, which may not be the case.
3. False Dichotomy: The article presents a false dichotomy between “starving children” and “minimal extra aid”. This binary choice ignores other possible solutions or alternatives that could address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
4. Ad Hominem Attacks: The article attacks the Israeli government’s character, implying that they are callous and uncaring about the suffering of Palestinians. While this may be a legitimate critique, it can also be seen as an ad hominem attack, which distracts from the issue at hand.
5. Slippery Slope Fallacy: The article implies that if Israel’s government allows minimal extra aid, it will lead to further humanitarian crises and suffering for Palestinians. This is a slippery slope fallacy, as it assumes that one action will inevitably lead to another without providing evidence or logical connections between the two.

Other Issues:

1. Lack of Objectivity: The article presents a clear bias against Israel’s government and its policies. While this may be understandable given the circumstances, it can also limit the article’s objectivity and credibility.
2. Overemphasis on Suffering: The article focuses heavily on the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, which is undoubtedly real and tragic. However, this focus may also create an imbalance in the narrative and distract from other important issues or perspectives.

Recommendations:

1. Use Neutral Language: Avoid using emotive language that can be seen as manipulative or biased.
2. Present Balanced Perspectives: Provide a balanced view of the situation by presenting multiple perspectives, including those of Israel’s government and other stakeholders.
3. Avoid Loaded Questions: Ask questions that are neutral and open-ended to encourage critical thinking and exploration of different solutions.
4. Focus on Facts: Focus on verifiable facts and data rather than making assumptions or accusations based on emotions or biases.

Note: This fallacy check is not intended to imply that the article is entirely flawed or without merit. Rather, it aims to highlight areas where the argumentation could be improved to make it more persuasive, credible, and effective.

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Cognitive Biases Identified:

1. Confirmation Bias: The article appears to have been written with a pre-existing assumption that Israel’s government is responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and that they are intentionally starving the Palestinian population. This confirmation bias leads the author to selectively present information that supports this narrative, while ignoring or downplaying contradictory evidence.
2. Anchoring Bias: The article uses a specific example of a child who died from starvation as an “anchor” to illustrate the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While this example is certainly tragic and eye-catching, it may not be representative of the overall situation, and using it as an anchor can create an exaggerated perception of the problem.
3. Availability Heuristic: The article relies heavily on vivid and disturbing images of starving children and destroyed infrastructure to convey the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This availability heuristic can lead readers to overestimate the importance or prevalence of these issues, simply because they are more memorable and attention-grabbing.
4. Hindsight Bias: The article implies that Israel’s government should have known better than to restrict food imports into Gaza, given the predictable consequences of such actions. However, this hindsight bias ignores the complexity of the situation and the various factors that may have influenced the Israeli government’s decision-making process.
5. Framing Effect: The article frames the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a moral outrage, emphasizing the suffering and injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian population. While this framing effect can be powerful in mobilizing public opinion and action, it can also create an overly simplistic or binary view of the issue, ignoring nuances and complexities that may require more thoughtful consideration.

Other Issues:

1. Lack of Nuance: The article presents a relatively black-and-white view of the situation in Gaza, with little attention to potential shades of gray or nuance.
2. Overemphasis on Emotions: The article relies heavily on emotional appeals, using vivid imagery and personal stories to convey the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While emotions can be powerful motivators for action, they can also lead readers to overlook important details or complexities.

Recommendations:

1. Present Multiple Perspectives: Provide a more balanced view of the situation by presenting multiple perspectives, including those of Israel’s government and other stakeholders.
2. Use Data-Driven Arguments: Support arguments with verifiable data and evidence, rather than relying solely on emotional appeals or anecdotal examples.
3. Avoid Overly Simplistic Framing: Avoid framing the issue in overly simplistic terms, ignoring nuances and complexities that may require more thoughtful consideration.
4. Encourage Critical Thinking: Encourage readers to think critically about the issue, considering multiple perspectives and potential biases.

Note: This cognitive bias check is not intended to imply that the article is entirely flawed or without merit. Rather, it aims to highlight areas where the argumentation could be improved to make it more persuasive, credible, and effective.

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A More Nuanced Approach to Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been a longstanding issue, with millions of Palestinians facing poverty, hunger, and displacement. While the situation is undoubtedly dire, it’s essential to approach this issue with a more nuanced understanding of its root causes and complexities.

Understanding the Root Causes

A root-cause analysis reveals that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is primarily driven by systemic issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, economic inequality, and lack of access to basic resources like water and electricity. These underlying factors have created a perfect storm that perpetuates poverty and suffering for Palestinians.

Avoiding Simplistic Solutions

Rather than focusing on simplistic solutions like “starving children” or “minimal extra aid,” we need to address the root causes of this crisis. This requires a more comprehensive approach that involves multiple stakeholders, including the Israeli government, Palestinian authorities, international organizations, and civil society.

A Balanced Perspective

To move forward, it’s essential to present a balanced perspective on this issue. While the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza is real and tragic, we must also acknowledge the complexities and nuances of this conflict. This includes recognizing Israel’s security concerns, as well as the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination.

Evidence-Based Policy

We should support evidence-based policies that address the root causes of this crisis. For example, studies have shown that investing in economic development and infrastructure can help reduce poverty and improve living standards in Gaza. Similarly, improving access to education and healthcare can empower Palestinians and provide them with better opportunities for a brighter future.

Encouraging Critical Thinking

Finally, it’s crucial to encourage critical thinking about this issue. Rather than relying on emotional appeals or simplistic framing, we need to engage in nuanced discussions that consider multiple perspectives and potential biases. This includes recognizing the cognitive biases and fallacies that can influence our perceptions of this crisis, such as confirmation bias and availability heuristic.

A Way Forward

Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires a sustained effort from all stakeholders involved. By understanding the root causes of this crisis, avoiding simplistic solutions, presenting a balanced perspective, supporting evidence-based policies, and encouraging critical thinking, we can work towards a more just and sustainable solution that promotes peace, security, and dignity for all.

Recommendations:

1. Support Economic Development: Invest in economic development initiatives that promote job creation, infrastructure growth, and poverty reduction in Gaza.
2. Improve Access to Education and Healthcare: Enhance access to quality education and healthcare services for Palestinians in Gaza, empowering them with better opportunities for a brighter future.
3. Promote Peacebuilding Initiatives: Support peacebuilding initiatives that bring together Israeli and Palestinian communities, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation.
4. Encourage Critical Thinking: Foster critical thinking about this issue through nuanced discussions, recognizing cognitive biases and fallacies, and considering multiple perspectives.

By taking a more nuanced approach to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we can move beyond simplistic solutions and work towards a more just and sustainable future for all.

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Filed under: Uncategorized - @ July 31, 2025 12:59 pm