Israel's murder of Palestinians causes a massive reaction

Contributed by Joe Montero

The murder of Palestinians by Israeli Defence Forces cannot be excused in any way. No ifs or buts. Murder is murder.

Israel’s government and its supporters have been trying to pass this off as either the Palestinians started it or that the offensive has been necessary to protect Israeli lives. The problem with this is that it is a lie. A cover to hide a deliberate plan to intimidate, and as some have called it, ethnically cleanse a population.

There is plenty of evidence of this. The denial of basic rights, such as economic security, the blocking of critical services, the policy of collective punishment, and the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their homes.

A big part of the lie is that the present offensive was a response to missile attacks on Israel by Hamas, and main media outlets have been falling over each other to present this falsification. Nor can this be explained away as a conflict between two combatants. It is the soft way of peddling the same lie.

What the world has been seeing in the last few weeks was triggered by the forced removal of residents in East Jerusalem. It was escalated by the premeditated attack by Israeli police on the Al Aqsa mosque, also in East Jerusalem, and only after this, did Hamas fire missiles into Israel.

The lie rests on a foundation of politics of hate. Hate dehumanises the target, and this in turn, dehumanises the hater. Who makes no distinction between combatants and civilians. Race becomes the point of demarcation, and this is the pillar on which the Israeli state sits.

Israeli police attack Palestinians at al-Aqsa mosque

Video from Guardian News

Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu claims the right of self defence. What about the right of Palestinians to self defence?

Targeting of civilians will not lead to peace. But it is important to see events in their context. The scale of Israel’s violence dwarfs any that might be coming from Hamas. The truth of this is in the numbers. Hundreds of Palestinians dead and 10 Israelis. Thousands of Palestinians injured and only a few Israelis. Neither the death of Palestinians nor Israelis is good. But there is an obvious difference in scale between the two sides.

This is the reason why the overwhelming reaction around the world has been against Israel. The scale of it, and the fact that details are getting out through social media, has got in the way of all attempts at censorship. Decent people are revolted by what they see.

Some, including a large part of big media chose to look the other way. They are complicit in carrying out a major crime against humanity. There are political leaders doing the same thing. Australia’s political leaders stand accused, alongside with those of the United States and a handful of other countries.

Israel is dependent on the political and physical support of the United States. This makes the position of Washington especially important. It has the capacity to force a stop to the killing if it wants to.

Being an apologist for Israeli crimes is becoming harder. United States President Joe Biden has been forced to backtrack and call for restraint. Our Scott Morrison and other government representatives have so far been silent for a change. Israel is proving to be a politically awkward friend.

The European Union and the United Nations have called Israel’s policy apartheid. Both have called on Israel to pull back. A stronger United Nations resolution has been held back with the United States threatening to use its veto power in the Security Council. Others say Israel is committing genocide.

Although the current offensive begun in East Jerusalem, the focus has been on occupied Gaza, which is being bombarded by planes and artillery. The target has been civilian residents. Another target is media. Al Jazeera and Associated Press have been deliberately hit.

Al Jazeera and Associated Press being hit

#Israel bombs tower with @AP and @AJArabic offices in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/2HMjLoclOe
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) May 15, 2021

Last week saw rallies in the streets, the size of which has not often been seen in recent times. Governments are condemning Israel’s action. Some, Like Australia’s are silent. None will come out and openly back Israel. Even U.S. President Joe Biden has had to backtrack and call for restraint. The European Union and the United Nations have called Israel’s policy apartheid. Both have called on Israel to pull back. A stronger United Nations resolution has been held back with the United States threatening to use its veto power in the Security Council. Others say Israel is committing genocide.

Is Israel Guilty Of Apartheid Against Palestinians?

Video from AJ+