As Netanyahu’s Israel commits war crimes in Gaza, our governments give them their complicit backing
Imagine living in war. Imagine living in a situation which may carry your memory for as long as you live. And every leader failing to keep you safe or ensure your safety.
Well, after the deadly attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas — a proscribed terrorist group in many western countries, including the UK and the US — that is a reality that bears witness. As I write this, Israel is launching its ground assault in Gaza, the centre for the appalling atrocities carried out over the past week, as a form of self-defence.
But this is not just any old Israel which is fighting this war. This is the Israel run by Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu — whose leadership went so well that millions of his own citizens protested against his fascist judicial plans and resulted in him abandoning them. The idea that he is perfectly capable of fighting Hamas off and keeping Israel safe is so laughable I nearly forgot that we’re living in an unrelenting reality.
The retaliation by the Israeli defence forces (IDF) resulted in more than 1,900 Palestinian deaths, compared to more than 1,300 Israeli deaths from the Hamas attacks. Every life lost is a tragedy, and we shouldn’t have to sugarcoat it no longer. When an act of terror kills, an act of retaliation can also kill. And both will result in humanitarian disasters, this one in which the families affected include the in-laws of the Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf.
Internationally, this conflict is having several effects. In London, at least three Jewish schools have had to temporarily close and security was sent to protect Jewish schools in the UK. Meanwhile, in Chicago, a Palestinian-American family was attacked by a landlord, with a six-year-old boy killed and his mother in a critical condition. In the midst of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia as a result, communities everywhere are fearing for the safety of their own people in ways that they shouldn’t have to. And the far-right is using hatred for their exploitation.
In this war — more like one massacre and then another — Israel is backed heavily by much of the west (the UK and US especially), and Palestine is barely backed by any if not none at all. The western leaders reiterate Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas, even if it involves displacing a million people in north Gaza and relocating them to the south, which the United Nations and human rights charities have criticised. But none of Israeli’s defenders seem to be reconsidering their support for the country, more like remind them to “be consistent within international law”.
And the Israeli government announced it would be shutting off supply of food, water and electricity to Gaza’s civilians, which would be testament to a war crime, which our complicit governments are yet to recognise as such. It’s a form of collective punishment against over two million people in the area, who are paying the price for Hamas’ actions.
According to Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party and former human rights lawyer, “Israel does have that right” to cut off basic needs. Even as he knew that it would be breaking the rules of the Geneva convention and yet he just said it as if he didn’t know what he was taking about. In other news, Labour recently told its own MPs and members not to go to the “free Palestine” protests. All this has left me considering whether I could ever vote for Labour again in the next general election, even though I want the Tories out because of their repeated failures.
Loads of people have been calling on others to “pick a side”, which I have done. Whether it’s about the side of Israel or the side of Palestine, or whether it’s the side or humanity or the side of complicity. I choose humanity. You know, you can distinguish the Palestinians from Hamas and the Israelis from Netanyahu’s government. Picking the side of humanity in this genocidal war is good for you, because the truth is regardless of whoever’s fighting and whoever’s backing, every single civilian will suffer. And a lot of them will die. Enough is enough.
*Donations to the British Red Cross can be made here..
