Caution In Gaza

The horror playing out in Gaza strip, in the Middle East, is beginning to challenge the humanity in all people regardless of geographical location, religious affiliation and political persuasion. The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as ugly as it is, pales in severity to the catastrophe in that tiny Arab enclave that keeps bearing the brunt of the show of strength between Israel and HAMAS, a militant Palestinian group.

The latest showdown started on October 7, 2023 when that radical group that claims to represent the Palestinian cause pulled the tiger by its tail and caused mayhem in Israel, killing, raping women and kidnapping people including women, children and the elderly who the group is presently using as a bargaining chip to get some concessions from Israel and the international community.

In the opinion of this newspaper, the situation in Gaza at the moment offers no room for anyone to indulge in any form of grandstanding let alone apportioning blame. Nevertheless, while we hold HAMAS accountable for the dreadful things it did in Israel on October 7, 2023, we also warn the Jewish state that even if it succeeds in eliminating HAMAS, as the United States Defence Secretary, Lloyd James Austin, pointed out, it will amount to a strategic loss.

What is going on in Gaza is a slur on the conscience of those who are in a position to stop it or at least ameliorate its impact but who willfully deaden their soul for reasons that are not only inconceivable but also out rightly condemnable.

 However, it must be admitted that what HAMAS did on October 7, 2023 was dastardly. But Israel’s response, to borrow the words of the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, ‘is over the board.’

We would not be detained by the politics behind the situation in Gaza, an area dominated by Palestinians who believe that the land hosting the state of Israel is theirs. From that viewpoint, they argue that the Jewish enclave must vacate. As ridiculous as that argument sounds considering the fact that both the Jews and the Palestinians claim Abraham as their primogenitor, it is time for the two sides to realize that they are related by blood and must necessarily co-exist under the Abrahamic canopy.

In that circumstance, it will only be safe to assume that it is a quarrel among cousins, what is generally referred to as sibling rivalry. But it is getting intolerably bloody and it is about time the world came together to say, firmly, enough is enough.

In our opinion, what is playing out in Gaza exposes the hypocrisy of the Arab nations who, by their body language, are not inclined to see an end to the conflict between the two warring groups. They prefer to offer humanitarian assistance that makes no meaningful contribution to the issue on the table. Their approach is essentially emotional in a matter that demands clear-headed thinking. The reason is not far to seek, their other interests are so strategic for them to put a bold foot forward.

Gaza also calls to mind the insincerity of the United States without whose support Israel would not have had the audacity to ignore international opinion that its response to the attack by HAMAS is beginning to wear a genocidal hue.

Actually, not a few are amused by the role the United States is playing in the conflict. That world power is not only blocking every international effort to end the conflict. Or at least rein in Israel. Instead, it has continued to support the Israelis with resources – money and the weapons they use to execute the perceptibly deadly campaign. This is so, because, in their thinking, HAMAS is a terrorist organization and it is in their best interest for Israel to give them the bloody nose they seemingly deserve. The resources they are providing for Israel is such that aims at fortifying her for more action no matter how long it takes. Now, the Americans are beginning to use their military to supply humanitarian aids to the displaced civilians in Gaza. Helpful as it is, given the dire situation in that area, we are persuaded to posit that if they are sincere, they should use their weight in world affairs to end the conflict and make humanitarian aid unnecessary.

Furthermore, in our view, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine have also emphasized the uselessness of the United Nations as an organization. That world body, to all intents and purposes, has outlived its usefulness. A talk shop of sorts, even its members ignore its resolutions with no price to pay for that.

Be that as it may, we urge all men and women of goodwill to remain resolute in their demand for action towards bringing an end to the disaster looming large in Gaza. The truth is that the civilians in Gaza who are suffering immensely from the effect of this conflict are mere canon fodders. This should not be. What is happening in Gaza is an eloquent testimony to the inadvisability of radicalism as an option in handling matters as sensitive as the Middle east crisis. It is neither good for Israel nor for the Palestinians.