What Is Currently Unfolding In Our World?
As it is widely recognized and reported in the news and on your social media feed, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a protracted and intricate matter that has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions. This conflict can be traced back to the late nineteenth century when advocates of the Zionist movement, who were predominantly Jewish, began migrating to Ottoman Palestine. They sought refuge from the prevailing European antisemitism and aimed to reestablish their ancient homeland. The origins of this conflict can be traced to a colonial action that transpired over a century ago.
The number of casualties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict varies depending on the specific time frame under consideration. According to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), up to the year 2020, there were 5,600 Palestinian fatalities and 115,000 injuries reported since 2008. Over the course of the conflict since 1987, it has resulted in the loss of 14,000 lives, with a majority of 87% being Palestinians. In the most recent wave of violence that commenced in May 2021, 250 Palestinians lost their lives, and almost 2,000 others sustained injuries, while at least 13 Israelis were killed during the eleven days of intense conflict. In the 2014 war between Israel and Gaza, the toll reached over 70 Israelis and over 2,000 Palestinians killed. Since 2008, approximately 6,400 Palestinians and 300 Israelis have tragically lost their lives due to the ongoing violence, and this figure does not include the recent fatalities.
In early October 2023, a conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas, an Islamist militant group that has governed Gaza since 2006. During this escalation, Hamas militants launched rockets into Israel and conducted incursions into southern Israeli cities and towns along the Gaza border. This resulted in casualties among both Israeli soldiers and civilians, with some individuals being taken as hostages. Israel responded swiftly with a large-scale military operation following the October 7 attack. The Israeli government formally declared war against Hamas, and the Defense Minister directed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to implement a “complete siege” of Gaza. Subsequently, both sides engaged in daily rocket exchanges, and Israel ordered over one million Palestinian residents in northern Gaza to evacuate in anticipation of a potential ground offensive. Additionally, Gaza faced critical shortages of water, fuel, and essential supplies due to an Israeli blockade. The situation has raised concerns about the conflict spreading as cross-border strikes intensify in Lebanon and Syria.
Following the Hamas attack incident, two support groups emerged, actively engaging in discussions in both the online and offline realms. These groups include those who express solidarity with Palestine, others who support Israel, and there are also neutral groups.
However, the question remains: Is opting for a neutral stance the most advisable course of action?
What do we need to know about this whole situation? According to various sources, Israel has been accused of committing war crimes during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. The accusations include:
1. Unlawful Israeli strikes: Amnesty International has reported unlawful Israeli attacks, such as indiscriminate attacks that failed to differentiate between civilians and military objectives, or attacks that may have been directed on civilian property.
2. Violations of international humanitarian law: In each of the cases documented by Amnesty International, Israeli attacks violated international humanitarian law, including by failing to take feasible precautions to spare civilians.
3. Military attacks without discrimination: Independent United Nations experts condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, claiming that Israel had used “indiscriminate military attacks” and “collective punishment.”
4. Use of incendiary weapons: Concerns have been expressed over the Israeli military’s reported use of white phosphorus, an incendiary weapon outlawed under international law.
5. Mass ethnic cleansing: A UN human rights expert warned that Palestinians are in grave danger of mass ethnic cleansing and called on the international community to urgently mediate a ceasefire between warring Hamas and Israeli occupation forces
So, if you remain neutral in situations of injustice, you are effectively siding with the oppressor. When we’re talking about a war, it’s clear that there will be casualties on both sides. However, it’s important to understand that this isn’t just a war; this is a genocide.
Your words, actions and choices have a significant impact on thousands, even millions of lives.
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