Hamas are obviously terrorists. Terrorism is most successful when it provokes states to lash out in anger and commit atrocities against the oppressed peoples those terrorists claim to represent. 9/11 was successful for Al Qaeda not because of the 3000 killed in NY, but because of the hundreds of thousands of people killed and/or militarized, and decades of destruction wreaked by the West on Iraq and Afghanistan.
In response to 9/11, we in the west ceded our moral high ground by lashing out and invading multiple countries, thus clearing any legitimate moral objection we might pose toward the invasion of Ukraine, and indeed the possible future invasion of Taiwan.
We flaunted international law, committed countless human rights violations, and expended our own blood and treasure in great quantities, ultimately accomplishing nothing in the name of global order — in fact giving rise to far worse and larger terrorist organizations like ISIL.
Amid the tragedy of this week’s open conflict in Israel and Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet will prove to have learned nothing from their decades of conflict. Untold civilian tragedies will occur at the hands of both Hamas and Israel. Hamas will gain credibility and power among Palestinians in Israel and abroad, garnering deeper financial and logistical support from global forces of destabilization.
Because their foe cannot temper their response, Hamas will emerge stronger from this conflict, while sacrificing thousands of their own citizens. Israel will be bloodied and their global reputation further sullied. Israelis will remain divided on issues like apartheid and West Bank occupation.
Peace will not prevail. Violence will achieve no tangible results.
Before you lend your unequivocal support to Israel during this crisis, think back to how that same unequivocal support for George W Bush and his cabinet on September 12, 2001 unleashed 21 years of war, death, and needless destruction.
Let’s support Israel, and Israelis affected by this violence. Let’s also lend a thought toward the millions of Palestinians who, despite decades of oppression, didn’t ask for this attack by Hamas — but who will largely bear its consequences.
For my part I choose to support Israelis, but not the Israeli government. I choose to support the Palestinian cause, but not Hamas.