Israel, Hamas, Gaza and West Bank Palestinian civilians

Trying my best to keep to the true facts, whether Pro or Anti-Israel or Pro or Anti-Hamas or Pro or Anti-Palestine

On October 7th 2023, Hamas broke into Israeli and carried out a series of violent attacks and hostage taking. This included brutal murder, torture and alleged rape (I have seen video footage and video still that seems to support these claims, at least of one Israeli woman.) It seems to be that Hamas were hoping these extreme acts would trigger Israel to overreact - as they always do - and force other Arab nations to join their fight against Israel. Some say that Hamas’ attacks were allowable because they were an occupied country. This is not true. Israel did and do not occupy Gaza. However, Gaza is effectively a semi-civilised prison camp. Some say Hamas had a right of resistance, because Israel had been and were oppressing them. Whilst that is true, attacking and killing civilians of any nationality or religion is not only illegal, but also morally plainly very wrong. Taking civilians hostage - along with soldiers - is also against international and human rights law. Those who defend all of the actions of Hamas are wrong to do so. Those who explain that Hamas Gazan Palestinians were so angry and frustrated by Israel’s oppression and effective imprisonment, are making excuses for exreme violence and terrorism of civilians. That cannot be right. Not in any circumstances. A right of resistance by Hamas does not justify their terrorism and hostage-taking of civilians.

In the same way, Israel’s right to defend itself - its citizens and soldiers - does not begin to justify the bombing of hundreds of thousands of Gazan civilians. They are those who say that Hamas taking hostages was a powerful way of drawing the World’s attention to the high number of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, two thirds of which have not even been charged with any crime. It has indeed clearly worked. However, that still does not negate the fact that around 200 civilians in Israel - not including 100 or so Israeli soldiers - were caused severe trauma, alarm and distress by being taken hostage. In other words, there are violations of international and humanitarian law on both sides of the conflict. However, Israel’s daily carpet bombing of largely civilian targets in Gaza City and beyond is totally indefensible and a far greater war crime and breach of human rights, than the sum of what Hamas did in Israel.

This is in no way excusing the violence and terrorism of Hamas, but Israel have lost the World’s sympathy being typically overreacting to massively disproportionately. Indeed, they have even admitted they are trying to wipe out as many Gazan Palestinians off the map as possible, all in the pretence of trying to wipe out every soldier and member of Hamas.

To be continued…