SHUMAILA ASLAM
Scandinavian News Agency
Bureau Chief – Pakistan
A controversial Israeli-backed animal rescue operation has come under intense scrutiny for airlifting donkeys from Gaza to France, while Palestinian civilians remain trapped in starvation and humanitarian disaster.
The operation, conducted by the Israeli NGO Starting Over Sanctuary, used Belgium’s Liège Airport as a transit hub to relocate dozens of donkeys from the war-torn Gaza Strip to animal sanctuaries in France.
While animal welfare groups have hailed the mission as a success, the move has sparked outrage among pro-Palestine activists, who say the evacuation of animals has been prioritised over life-saving aid and evacuations for human victims of the ongoing conflict.
Critics argue that the international response remains dangerously unbalanced, with resources being diverted to non-human evacuations, while Gaza’s civilian population continues to suffer under Israeli bombardment, aid blockades, and near-total economic collapse.
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