Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of the US Congress, has accused the Israeli government of committing some of the worst crimes against humanity “of this century” in its war in Gaza.

“This isn’t a tragic accident,” Tlaib said in a speech from the House floor on Thursday. “What we are witnessing, all around this world, is the Israeli government using starvation as a weapon of war. The starvation is a result of the total siege on Gaza and the intentional targeting of local food production, infrastructure and obstruction of aid convoys.”

Tlaib said there would be “nothing humanitarian” about a temporary ceasefire that simply delayed the onslaught of Palestinian civilians and instead called for a “lasting, permanent ceasefire” as the only solution to the war.

“Palestinian children deserve to live. They are not disposable,” Tlaib said.