In a sentence, Israel’s sole aim is to increase its land grab and to prevent Palestinian unity and statehood, while keeping the civilians in squalor in the world’s largest open prison camp. This whole scenario is a classic case of ‘who has the biggest stick has the last word’, fairness or rights does not come into it at all. The Palestinian people are devoid of the minimum living standard that they are very well capable of providing themselves. What’s the point when they might be blown up by Israel tomorrow?
This is so apparent with their insistence on continuing to build new settlements while pushing for so called peace talks. This is akin to ask for the wallet of a victim while holding a gun to their head, and still saying we want peace.
I would not be surprised if the 3 Israeli youths that were kidnapped and murdered were done so by the Israel State itself. The repercussion on one Palestinian teenager was one of the most painful torture and death that can be imagined, death by burning. His cousin was a lot more luckier, his bones were broken, but that’s all!
I can only imagine the Israeli state planning the whole scenario, for the continued prize of death and destruction for the Palestinians and open cheque book from its backers. Ever since Hamas and Al Fatah agreed to form a unity government, alarm bells have been ringing in the Israel’s cabinet.
We must all start evaluating how we can make a statement to Israel. There are many ways in which we can each reach out. Donations to charities helping Palestinians are one, writing to your MP is another, writing to the Israel’s embassy is another, and we must not forget our power as consumers. Read where the product is from and if it is from Israel do not buy it. Write to the store where you shop and state that you will not buy products from Israel.
I must also make a statement with regard policies held by Hamas. Hamas cannot and should not demand the destruction of or deny the right for Israel to exist.
Attacking Israel with tin can rockets will not harm it at all, you are not capable of buying or building any weapons that can harm Israel, so what’s the point?
I can only guess the point it is trying to make, screaming to the wider world community. This can be seen as a cry for help, this cry has the same end result as that of Israel’s own policies, and this is where they both agree. Hamas provides the reason, Israel provides the power of destruction of Palestinian civilians, women, children, babies and men.
Another point to note is, are the cries being heard by the people it is intended for? The large part of its neighbours are in conflict themselves, others just do not want to be burdened by a conflict that is not in their interest. Further afield the cries fall on deaf ears. It seems the world is a very lonely place for the Palestinians. Only Turkey has been very vocal in calling for the cessation of the conflict.
Hamas must renounce its intent on armed conflict with Israel, accept its existence, and fight for its lands in a non-violent way. It must in any future role provide for its citizens, raising the standard of living through all means of social services.
Hamas cannot and must not and surely it knows the consequences of its futile attacks on Israel. Israel does not heed anyone, it has no interest in UN resolutions, other than if it is for its benefit. It has a nuclear arsenal, it has the most powerful armed forces in the middle east, so why should it heed anyone? It’s totally disproportional response to tin can rockets is beyond any normal persons understanding. Why does it do this, I believe it is doing so to try and turn the Palestinian civilians against Hamas, perhaps the thinking in the Israeli cabinet goes ‘this is what you get for backing Hamas, so think again if you want to back them once more, no one is immune from our retaliation’.
Knowing that any of your action results in the death or maiming of innocent babies, children, women and men, places you in the wrong. You simply have to start the long hard road to a diplomatic solution to achieving your statehood.
I can make a very poor analogy of Hamas and Israel playing a game of chess, instead of using pawns, they are using innocent civilians.
All that has been proven so far is the insistence that both sides can sacrifice innocent civilians. I believe that a total change needs to take place at the top levels on both sides with fresh thinking people committed to a lasting peaceful process that brings statehood to the Palestinian people and an Israel state that feels it is not under threat.