Maltese theatre icon Alan Montanaro has taken to Facebook with a heartfelt message, urging people to confront the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and resist becoming desensitised to the suffering of others.Known for his role as the “Dame” in MADC Pantomimes and light-hearted posts, Montanaro departed from his usual tone to mark the anniversary of Live Aid on 13th July. Reflecting on the global response to the Ethiopian famine in 1985, he drew a sharp contrast with the current war in Gaza.“Today, we ought to be looking on in utter shame (and fear), as a genocide of starving children and the destruction of entire communities is streamed on to our tablets and phones while we carry on with our day,” he wrote.“This time, it’s not famine. It’s not drought. It’s not circumstance. It’s intent. It’s man-made. Deliberate. It’s political. Cold. Cruel.”Montanaro expressed concern that constant exposure to distressing content on social media is numbing the public’s sense of empathy. “We quickly scroll past the horror, quick to swipe away the footage just in case it ruins our mood or, God forbid, forces us to feel what we should feel.”He concluded by saying the post was not intended to spark debate, but to reaffirm a shared humanity: “It’s about the condemnation of cruelty without reserve… This post is about people. People like us.”Do you agree with Montanaro’s statement?•