On October 7, the world woke up to a surprised and unprovoked attack on Israeli territory by the Palestinian led Hamas group resulting to death of scores and destruction of properties. Hamas was said to have launched over 5000 rocket propelled attacks on Israel lasting several hours. Sources from Aljazeera quoted Mohammed Deif, head of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas as saying, “we announced the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports and military fortifications exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells.” At least 1200 civilians were reported dead, many wounded while thirteen out of 150 Israelis held hostage have been killed by Hamas. Some analysts said that the Palestinian territory is almost entirely occupied and gentrified; snatched from them, perhaps eventually leaving them without anywhere to go, except to fight and die. Just in July, the Israeli government under Netanyahu laid out a plan to build more settlements in the West Bank, to bring in up to one million Jewish settlers even though it is illegal and in contravention of international treaties. As one Palestinian negotiator said a few days ago, “the Palestinians will soon be left with three choices – live under total Jewish subjugation. Leave. Or die.”
Israel does not takes any affront to its sovereignty or territorial integrity lightly. Therefore, it has swiftly retaliated with blistering aerial attacks on Gaza preparatory for ground assault. Israel is angry and nobody knows when this onslaught on Gaza will end. Responding to the unwarranted attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that, “Israel will take mighty vengeance against Hamas. This war will take time. It will be difficult.” Major General Ghassan Alian, a key Israeli Defence Force official said that Hamas had, “opened the gates of hell with its surprise attack and will bear the responsibility and pay for its deeds.” As Israeli offensive continues on Gaza, officials said; “it has dropped 6,000 bombs weighing 4,000 tonnes in the past six days, killing more than 1,400 people.” The attack on Israel was a surprise to the global community after many thought the two neighbours are beginning to learn how to live in peace with each other. Why is it difficult for the world to find a lasting solution to this conflict? The unending Israeli/Palestinian conflict is fueled by the bias and hypocrisy of the global community.
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There is an already existing global political alignment on matters related to Israel/Palestine. America has never hidden her support for Israel. The Islamic Republic of Iran has risen up as the big brother of Palestine/Hamas. It is ridiculous some religious leaders across both Christian and Islamic divides have made this to look like a religious war. Their followers have pitched tents with either side in complete ignorance of the crux of the matter. The crisis is a war to claim territory not on religion. Land as a resource and historical ancestral affinity to both Israel and Palestine is at the heart of this conflict. Both have laid claims to ancestral ownership of the land. Humanity does not support injustice and subjugation. Therefore, the right of the Palestinian people to life and home is paramount. Israel also needs protection and a place called their own. Hamas should have allowed the sleeping dog lie by avoiding any provocative actions that could deepen the already existing animosity and fragile situation. Israel should understand that the generality of Palestinian people are the underdog and it is not fair to kill a fly with a sledge hammer. Therefore, for calm and normalcy to return, the world should strongly impress it on both states to embrace peace and the United Nations prescribed 1947 two-nation states status.
The world should take side with humanity, stop alignment based on economic or political interest and discard spewing religious bigotry. The total population of Israel is 9.364m equivalent to the population of Kaduna State in Nigeria, occupying a land mass of 22,145sq.km, far less than Adamawa State of Nigeria with 36,917sq.km. Of the above population, 1.7m are Muslims representing 18% while Christians are just 185,000 equivalent to 1.9%. Jewish religion adherents have about 73.6% of the total population. From the above figures, it can be seen that Israeli Muslims are more than Israeli Christians while Jewish religious adherents takes the lead. The Israeli Defense Force has an army of 169,500 (active personnel). Of this number, only 150 are Christians while Muslims are 606, the rest are Jewish Adherents. 40% of Jerusalem are Palestinians. Therefore, if you think the fight between Israel and Palestine is a Christian/Muslim war, you are dead wrong. Have you asked yourself why the voices the majority – those adherent to Judaism are not heard? As the war rages on, the world should bear in mind that the price of war is stewed with the blood of the innocent. In the end, it is the poor man, woman, children who bears the brunt. The global politics of war is nothing but a business devoid of morality. Iran which is allegedly said to sponsor Hamas has an interest to protect so also is America and the rest. Both try to sustain the war with their support and at the end sell their arms and amunitions to both aggrieved parties while the common man continues to suffer and die. Oil prices rise in war to the benefit of the members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). A whole lot fuels this crisis and it is only genuine peace that is needed to put an end to the conflict.
It is observed that whenever it comes to Israeli/Palestinian conflict people seem to express understanding of fairness. Not genuine fairness in the right sense of it but on account of religious beliefs separated by Christianity and Islam. We have refused to agree that no matter what we believe in, Abraham was the father of both Ishmael and Jacob – the symbols upon which the two religions are founded? In fact, these are two brothers separated by the circumstances of their births always fighting and killing each other. Families bicker, siblings fight, settle and move on. But not for Israel and Palestine. There are external influences and motifs unwilling to allow peace rein. Unfortunately, justice, equity, demand for a two-state solution have been swallowed by the opium of the masses is activated based on the above factors. If what you call justice, equity fairness and a two-state solution is not globally applicable to any other place with the same circumstances, you a hypocrite. President Joe Biden expectedly has reiterated America’s support for Israeli. He said, “the United States and the State of Israel are inseparable partners, and I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people.” The world is already sharply divided on this matter. This in itself had dangerously aggravated the situation. The festering hopeless nature of the crisis was captured thus by an analyst, “no one condones Palestinian or Israeli violence.
And is it even relevant whether the rest of us condone or not condone it? It has never stopped either side from extreme violence anyway.” Condemnation aside, what would you do if you were the Palestinians? Live under total Israeli subjugation. Leave? Or die? Who is to blame, Israel or Hamas? Those are the questions.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze
