I doubt the people of Gaza have much sway over what armed extremists choose to do or not do unless they wanna get killed themselves. In any case, I’d like to see Western governments stop sending funds and arms to Israel when it’s just going to use them to kill and further subjugate innocent people without actually attempting to actually solve the underlying problem.
Bombing innocent civilians in Gaza seems like it will only incite more otherwise non-radical people to join Hamas. Where are Palestinians supposed to go when the bombs drop? No iron dome defense on their side. Toward the walls? The sea? I’m willing to bet Hamas will only be weakened when the Israeli government starts recognizing Palestinians as humans with equal rights and stops treating them as undesirables in their own land.
From what I understand, conditions in the West Bank are not as bad as in Gaza. Though the Palestinians living there still have little to no rights under Israeli law. I also think expecting unarmed civilians to overthrow a violent terrorist regime is a little naive. I doubt every person living in Gaza is a supporter of Hamas, as it seems the group only makes life harder for them in the long run. But again, it would seem they have nobody else to turn to. Personally, if I were living in Gaza under constant fear of getting blown to shit without warning, I’d grow to hate my oppressors as well. Who wouldn’t? I reiterate, Hamas seems to be a symptom of a human rights problem that is perpetuated by Israel and ignored/enabled by the Western World at large.
My point is…when you make people desperate enough…what else can be expected but violence? Palestine, and Gaza I particular…seem to have no other recourse, other than Israel just deciding to right the wrongs that have been done of their own volition. A decision they have clearly gone the other way on since the 90s at least.
Idk, but giving them political representation and allowing them to return to their homeland seems like it would be a start. For all practical purposes, Gaza is no more than a prison city. Imagine if we cordoned off Manhattan and blockaded the island, leaving it with no official police force or autonomy over basic utilities. Then dropped bombs whenever we felt like. What recourse do the people of Gaza have? Peace didn’t work, violence doesn’t work…are they just supposed to be subjugated like this forever? If you watch the content that does come out of Gaza, most of the people there seem like they are just trying to survive under a constant fear of bombardment.
I didn’t know much about this conflict until I did a deep dive last night. I can never abide killing innocent people. But after having learned the history and context behind the Palestine/Israel conflict during the better part of the 20th century up to now…it is hard to imagine a more desperate situation than what the Palestinians are in today. Given what I’ve learned, I can’t support Israel, and I am sickened that my government gives so much money each year to this apartheid state to continue their oppressive practices. Hamas seems to me, a symptom of a much deeper problem that Britain started and rhe West/Israel perpetuate. This didn’t happen in a vacuum.
Wtf did I just read?