The current war between Israel and Hamas is raging on and tensions continue to rise. There has recently been a potential bombing of a hospital in Gaza City and increased bombing throughout the area by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), though it is unclear as journalists have not been allowed access. The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was reportedly bombed by IDF planes on Oct. 10 leaving trucks with humanitarian aid for Gazans stranded on the Egyptian border, according to the Washington Post and The Times of Israel.
On the same day, “Israeli military revised a recommendation by one of its spokespeople that Palestinians fleeing its air raids in Gaza head to Egypt,” according to a report by Al Jazeera.
Throughout the increased bombings, Gazans have had food, water and electricity supplies cut off with no escape as border crossings have been closed. Israel in response has moved to put Gazans under a medieval siege which has been deemed by the United Nations (U.N.) as a war crime.
I fear this has devolved in the worst way. The attacks by Hamas just two weeks ago that kicked off this conflict are despicable in every way. Innocent Israelis don’t represent all of their government and they don’t deserve to be murdered in cold blood for the wrongs or perceived wrongs carried out by their government against the Palestinian people. However, the commission of heinous acts against Israelis by Hamas doesn’t justify the Israeli government’s similar acts. As opinions have tensed up on either side of the conflict, it seems that saying, “Innocents should not be killed, full stop,” is a taboo statement; you can only support Israel or Palestine, there is no in-between.
That is a dangerous sentiment. It allows for people to, at worst, treat the other side as a persona non grata, and at best, an untouchable. Even though I wholeheartedly disagree with this untouchable sentiment and open disgust that people have for one side or the other, it is at least honest. Some should have an honest albeit deplorable position because then you at least see where they stand and proceed from there.
I feel this softer sort of distaste is far more pervasive and evil. In “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, there is a proclamation made by the pigs that says, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” I feel that this quote by Orwell accompanies this distaste well.
I feel that this indifference mixed with distaste is far more detrimental. People can tacitly disagree with actions taken but just pivot to, ‘Oh, it’s the Israelis/Palestinians fault,’ or ‘Oh, they’re just Palestinians/Israelis,’ which leads to something far more dangerous than hate: indifference.
Timothy Fitzpatrick can be contacted at
tfitzpatrick@kscequinox.com
