Statement of Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman on the Latest Israeli Attacks in Gaza

I strongly condemn the latest Israeli attacks and bombings in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of countless innocent civilians, including women and children.

What makes this even more reprehensible is that these brutal assaults were carried out during the Holy Month of Ramadan – a time of peace, reflection and prayer for Muslims worldwide. Despite an ongoing ceasefire, Israel has continued its indiscriminate bombings, showing complete disregard for human life. The world watches in horror as families are wiped out, homes are turned to rubble and the already suffering people of Gaza are subjected to even more terror and devastation.

The images coming out of Gaza are unbearable: parents holding their lifeless children, entire families buried under the ruins of their homes, hospitals overwhelmed with the wounded.

This is not war; this is a massacre of the innocent.

Durog na durog na ang puso ng bawat Muslim sa buong mundo sa mga larawang lumalabas mula sa Gaza. Mga katawan ng bata na walang buhay, mga pamilyang naghuhukay sa guho para mahanap ang kanilang mahal sa buhay at mga magulang na yakap-yakap ang kanilang anak na hindi na gumagalaw. Mga tanawing nagdudulot ng matinding panginginig sa galit at lungkot sa napakaraming nakakasaksi.

The international community, particularly those who champion human rights and justice, must act swiftly. Silence in the face of genocide is complicity. The Philippines, alongside other nations, must call for an immediate end to these attacks, hold Israel accountable and demand that humanitarian aid be allowed to reach the besieged people of Gaza.

We cannot speak of peace while allowing one side to bomb entire neighborhoods into ashes. We cannot claim to stand for justice while watching entire families being erased from existence. The world must open its eyes to the suffering of Gaza and put an end to this cycle of bloodshed.

To my fellow lawmakers, I urge you to stand on the right side of history. We must raise our voices against these atrocities and push for stronger international intervention. No child should ever have to die in the arms of a desperate parent. No family should ever be massacred in their own homes. The people of Gaza deserve justice. They deserve peace. And they deserve to live free from the horrors of war and occupation.