Gaza and Israel

GAZA AND ISRAEL

Gaza (pop.778,000), controlled by Hamas, a militant Palestinian group, has launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel. As of 10/8, 700 Israelis and 413 Palestinians are dead, and an unknown number of Israelis has been taken hostage to exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The full Israeli counterattack has not yet started, and Palestinian casualties are expected to escalate.

What is to be our reaction? We could say that the attack is just the latest episode in an intractable conflict that has gone on for 75 years between Israel and the Palestinians. We could say that the attack has roots in the continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank; recent Israeli raids on the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem; the detention of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

We could say it is Israel’s 9/11; if so, we must fear the overreaction of the Israeli military, which will lead to massive Palestinian casualties and even an attack on Iran, which backs Hamas.

We should consider what Gaza has become over the decades: it is an “open-air prison” where unemployment is 50% and only 10% have access to clean water. Perhaps some Palestinians have calculated that they have nothing to lose in rising up and placing themselves in a situation of high risk. 

Source: The New York Times, 10/8/23