Anti-Israel sentiment (and anti-semitism) are growing about Israel’s indiscriminate and disproportionate response to Hamas’s slaughter of innocent Israelis on Oct. 7. Israel has continued its incessant bombing of Gaza and sealing its borders, leaving Gazans with no power, no food, no clean drinking water, no gas, and no proper sanitation and healthcare.
To date, at least 9,000 Palestinians have been killed including more than 3,600 children and more than 32,000 wounded. Netanyahu has attempted to justify the bombings by pointing to a British bombing raid almost 80 years ago that killed children,
“That is not a war crime. That is not something you blame Britain for doing. That was a legitimate act of war with tragic consequences that accompany such legitimate actions.”
Metaphors, however, are not very helpful in any discussion of this war in the holy land. Neither is it helpful to substitute “collateral damage” for the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians, nor “decolonization” for the slaughter of innocent Israelis on Oct. 7. Mass death should be deplored, not defended, regardless of who its victims are. If the Israeli Defense Forces slaughter civilians indiscriminately and disproportionately, the Israeli government will be committing abuses on moral par with those of Hamas. Violence was inevitable, considering that five million Palestinians live under occupation with no civil rights; no freedom of mobility; and no say in their lives.
And the U.S. is complicit by aiding Israel.
Many are calling for a humanitarian pause in the conflict. if not a full cease fire. This would allow needed aid to reach the people of Gaza and possibly a release of all, or at least some of the hostages held by Hamas.