FORGET POLITICS, WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN’S LIVES?
By Vincent Lyn
“Israel uses sophisticated attack jets and naval vessels to Bomb densely populated crowded refugee camps, schools, apartment blocks, Mosques and slums to attack a population that has NO air force, NO air defense, NO navy, NO heavy weapons, NO artillery units, NO mechanized armor, NO command in control, NO army and calls it a War . IT IS NOT WAR IT IS MURDER.”- Noam Chomsky. Adding to that the targeting of U.N. refugee schools, Christian Churches both Catholic and Greek Orthodox.
Experts agree that Israel’s military operation in Gaza is considered one of the most devastating and destructive in recent history. In slightly over two months, the military offensive has inflicted more damage than the destruction of Syria’s Aleppo from 2012 to 2016, Ukraine’s Mariupol, or proportionally, the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II. The toll on civilians exceeds that of the U.S.-led coalition’s three-year campaign against the Islamic State group.
The Israeli military has been tight-lipped about the specifics of the bombs and artillery used in Gaza. However, experts assert that the majority of bombs dropped are of U.S. origin, including 2,000-pound “bunker-busters” responsible for hundreds of casualties in densely populated areas.
With the Palestinian death toll having surpassed 20,000, there’s a global call for a cease-fire. Israel remains committed to its offensive, aiming to destroy Hamas’. However it’s apparent that Israel is more intent on murdering innocent infants and children which is now half of all civilian deaths. Despite this the Biden administration continues to supply arms to Israel.
The absence of time and resilience in the face of an armed insurgency are resources that no colonizer can afford to possess. This is rooted in the inherent belief that the people being ruled are of an inferior caste and character, a racist perspective that is immediately threatened and subverted when a subjugated population rises to assert and affirm its humanity through sacrifice.
This brings us to October 7, a date that will be remembered either for its infamy or as a turning point, depending on one’s particular worldview. For those who view the current massacre as commencing on that date, it is the former perspective that prevails. Conversely, for those who recognize that Palestinians have faced numerous October 7s since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, it is the latter interpretation.
Nevertheless, following the somber events of October 7, 2023, Israel’s consistently harsh military response underscores the validity of a statement articulated by none other than Henry Kissinger, a key figure associated with the concept of ‘realpolitik.’ Kissinger asserted, “The conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla wins if he does not lose.”
More than three months later, Kissinger’s words remain profoundly relevant. Despite proclaiming from the outset the goal of destroying Hamas and eliminating its top leadership, Israel has yet to achieve either objective. Consider this: the region’s most potent military force, and one of the strongest globally on paper, has not declared victory over a Palestinian resistance comprising motivated young men wielding light weapons and employing classic guerrilla tactics of hit-and-run in small teams.
This, coupled with the remarkable ingenuity demonstrated by the extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza in defiance of a 16-year-long siege, reflects the resilience of a people whose will has been forged, not broken, by their oppressor.
As of now, the Israeli military has acknowledged the loss of 485 soldiers have been killed since the start of the conflict on October 7. This figure is unprecedented and nearly triples the number of casualties they suffered during the previous ground incursion into the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014, known as Operation Protective Edge.
The increased depth of Israeli military penetration into the Strip compared to 2014 contributes to the current casualty rate. However, it’s crucial to recognize that the Palestinian resistance has shown improvement in terms of organization, training, and tactics over time.
In the broader geopolitical context, a recent poll conducted by the Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) at Harvard University and Harris Insights and Analytics revealed that support for Hamas among U.S. voters aged between 18 and 24 is more than half that of Israel in the current conflict.
This signifies a remarkable shift in U.S. public opinion toward Israel, a trend mirrored across the entire Western world. This shift is most evident in the unprecedented scale of pro-Palestine demonstrations occurring throughout the United States and Europe during the current conflict.
The widespread and intense pro-Palestine sentiment has resulted in substantial political pressure on governments and political elites whose longstanding, unwavering support for Israel was previously considered a non-negotiable aspect of Western foreign policy. In this context, Netanyahu and the coalition of far-right Zionist figures surrounding him have inadvertently become more allies than adversaries to the Palestinian cause.
However, the toll in terms of human lives has been devastating for the Palestinians. It is a cost that serves as a damning indictment of a collective West that has, for the past three months, been content to act as spectators to the genocidal slaughter of an oppressed people, akin to Romans in the Coliseum.
From a purely human perspective, the fact that individuals like Biden, Sunak, Scholz, von der Leyen, and others can comfortably embrace and kiss their grandchildren and children goodnight, tucking them into their lavish beds each evening, while being aware that 10,000 children in Gaza have been murdered and thousands more have suffered injuries, trauma, and emotional devastation, is a deeply disturbing condemnation.
As an unsuccessful venture in settler colonialism, white supremacy, and ethno-nationalism, Israel’s violent aggression reflects the behavior of a rogue state. It may prevail in the immediate conflict, but it has already lost the moral and ethical argument.
In a unique occurrence in contemporary times, Christians and Muslims are uniting. It marks the first instance in modern history where both Christians and Muslims are recognizing Israel as the pariah state it has transformed into under its present leadership. Unprecedentedly, Christians comprehend the violence that Israel has unleashed against Muslims during its rule. In a historical first, people from various faiths and beliefs, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Bahai, Hindus, Atheists, Deists, and even Jews, are beginning to grasp the genuine motives behind the Zionist leadership in Israel. Let’s be cautious not to jeopardize this newfound unity and support.
“It is not those who can inflict the most, but those who can suffer the most who will conquer.”- Terence MacSwiney.
Vincent Lyn
CEO & Founder of We Can Save Children
Deputy Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations (ECOSOC)
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts