Famine in the city

This Shabbat, we read the haftara of Metzora (II Kings 7:3-20). It opens with four lepers who live just outside gates of Shomron. In desperation, seeking a chance to escape certain death by starvation in the besieged city, they decide to throw themselves upon the mercy of the enemy camp of Aram.

The verses before the haftara describe the degree of famine created by the siege: “And there was a great famine in the city, for they were besieging it, until a donkey’s head cost eighty pieces of silver, and a kav of dove’s droppings cost five pieces of silver” (II Kings 6:25).

The Metzudot commentary explains that dove’s droppings were the only fuel available, since there were no trees remaining.

We are also familiar with siege warfare from Megillat Eicha: “…as little children and babies faint in the squares of the city. They say to their mothers, where is grain and wine, as they faint like the fallen in city squares, as their souls are poured out into their mothers’ laps” (Lamentations 2:12-13).

It has been two months since Israel has allowed food or humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Food and fuel are often available only on the black market, at inflated prices for an impoverished population. This is a siege. It hurts everyone, but its first victims are those who are weak or sick, very old or very young. It is cruel and horrifying and does not help our hostages.

We need to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and we need to end this war. Now.