I don’t often comment on the Israel–Palestine conflict, and I try not to be reactive. But there comes a point where neutrality becomes its own kind of indulgence.
Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatrician, lost nine of her ten children, and her husband, in an airstrike on their home in Khan Younis. Her surviving son, Adam, 11, had his hand amputated and was flown out of Gaza to Italy, where he says he hopes to live in “a beautiful place… where houses are not broken and nobody dies.”
The children killed were: Sidar (7 months), Luqman (2), Sadeen (3), Rifan (5), Raslan (7), Jubran (8), Eve (9), Rakan (10), and Yahya (12). May they rest in the Highest Heaven.
It’s hard not to think of Adam as a real-life Saving Private Ryan—the last surviving child, pulled from devastation, carrying the unbearable weight of survival. At what point do we stop qualifying, hedging, contextualizing—and just ask: is this genocide?
It is genocide I don’t think there is a whole lot to quibble about. The lawyers can argue semantics. It pretty much fits a rational idea of what a genocide might be.
Apart from hand wringing I don’t know what’s to be done.
The Egyptians have shut the border and allow no one to escape.
The Hamas has deeply embedded itself in and under the populace. (Sinwar was killed in a tunnel complex directly under the hospital)
If the shoe was on the other foot the Palestinians almost certainly would commit genocide on the Jews, given both the viciousness of the Oct 7 attack and the celebrations after.
Only Israel can stop it as Hamas seems to be determined to shield itself with the last Palestinian child before it gives up a hostage.
Nethanyahu not so secretly funded Hamas for years to ensure that no moderate front could survive in Gaza.
The right wing Israelis believe in a holy war to end it all.
The Gazans themselves have by and large supported Hamas and supply them with recruits, who in turn believe it is a holy war.
Holy war + Holy war = Forever war + Genocide.
“Only Israel can stop it”– The US could stop Israel if it.wanted. But it just vetoed another ceasefire resolution at the UN and is also threatening countries participating in the French/Saudi conference.
I don’t want to get into “genocide” or not. That word is terribly overused. But certainly war crimes are being committed. Ex Israeli PMs (even those who belonged to Likud) have pointed this out. This war continues for Netanyahu’s own political interests. If he ends it, his coalition will fall. He would have to face trial for corruption. As long as the war continues, he stays in power.
Many Israelis (according to polling) want the war to end and for their hostages to be released. Netanyahu–cynically–doesn’t really care that much about the hostages.
Israel has launched an unprovoked (so called “preemptive”) strike on Iran. Very scary times for the whole region.
To lay my cards on the table, I’m on Iran’s side on this issue. I’m no fan of the Iranian regime but there is no excuse for launching this kind of attack on the country. It would be understandable for Iran to retaliate in some fashion.
Perhaps we could have an open thread on this crisis?
I have made you author Kabir since you can post the Open Thread directly if that’s ok?
Thanks!
we can, provided if we first ask whether 1971 war was genocide or not. That is the crux of the issue. civilization and barbarism cannot live in peace. End of story. The primary logic where wars make sense is that Wars are fought to prevent future wars where barbarians might win, smart people make decisions keeping that in mind. others cant see this. The kids are too young to make a choice, but the parents did have a choice, oppose hamas and secure peace with israel, or accept the consequence of the outcome. When one does nothing to end the terrorists hijacking their entire country. why should you expect others to be quiet?. Do we agree with this logic where you live?. Would you be happy your country taken over by white supremacists?. Should every country, everywhere, we should accept people allowing their country taken over worst scum of humanity?. what is being asked of palestine or pakistan is what is taken for granted everywhere else.
“Genocide” is an overused and politicized term. That said, a lot of Bangladeshis and Indians do refer to Pakistan’s actions in 1971 as a genocide. Pakistanis obviously will dispute this. But it would be fair to say that war crimes were committed.
On Palestine: Please remember that Hamas was supported by Israel in order to weaken Fatah (the Palestinian Authority). Even if the Gazans “oppose Hamas” as you say, I doubt Israel would magically start treating them well.
Your Islamophobia is showing.
speaks a man happy with military taking over entire country and giving free hand to terrorists. How many minorities have been raped and murdered today in pakistan?. The issue is not what Israel thinks, the question is, do they have a reason or an excuse. In absence of any such reason and excuse, it would be straight forward for everyone to agree that they are the barbarians. That is the how one differentiates between civilization vs barbarians. In civilization, one opposes evil people irrespective of their ideology, beliefs. In barbarian societies, they are given free hand.You spend a lot of your time outside pakistan in western countries where you enjoy rights irrespective of your faith. People like you wont understand what pakistan really is unless you actually get treated like how minorities get treated in pakistan. Calling hyenas and snakes as dangerous is not hyenaphobia or snakeophobia. take this left loony neologism elsewhere.
Your Islamofascism is showing very clearly for everyone.
Calm down.