What is the exchange price of Israeli and Palestinian lives?

Chinmay Prasun Biswas :

Israel has the right to defend itself. Don’t the people of Palestine have that same right? Nobody is vocal in asking this question.

A huge portion of American civil society has raised voice against American support to Israel but it has no effect on 75-year old tradition of American government’s categorical support to Israel.

After many attempts a resolution on the war in Gaza was finally adopted by the United Nation Security Council but it is very weak and almost ineffective.

Due to persistent American objection the term ceasefire could not be included in it. It only said that more humanitarian aid should be delivered to the people of Gaza. But due to constant bombing and rampage of Israeli tanks and armed soldiers that work is yet to begin.

Immediately after passing the resolution, Secretary General of the United Nations said that it would do nothing. If shelling does not stop, it is not possible to distribute relief material properly.

Not only European countries but countries like Canada or Australia want end of the war. What is the reason behind persistent American support for Israel? From the 1930s Jews started coming to America as refugees to escape from strong racism in Germany and other European countries. Now those very Jews are at the top of American business, finance and other professions.

Therefore, ignoring rest of the world, relationship of America is always strong with Israel. During last 75 years America has applied veto at least 47 times in the Security Council in favour of Israel.

Moreover, a deeper cultural connection works here. The United States of America was founded as a colony of white European immigrants. They settled there displacing and killing the original inhabitants. A myth grew that America was God’s gift to Christians of Europe. Zionism also contains a Biblical myth – Israel is the God-given homeland of the Jews but they were exiled from there two thousand years ago.

In the middle of the 20th century a group of white Europeans started establishing colonies in West Asia by evicting its long-time inhabitants and ignoring their opposition. Being similar in nature, this incident touched the hearts of white Americans. For last seventy five years leaders of the two countries are continuously saying that their historical situation is the same. So, they understand and support each other.

According to Israel and the US, Israel has the right to ensure its own security against the attack of Hamas. That will be possible only when Hamas becomes completely annihilated. But Hamas soldiers exist within civilians and in underground tunnels in densely populated areas of Gaza.

Therefore, if they are to be eliminated, many people will die. What is the exchange rate of Israeli and Palestinian lives? According to Israeli estimate 1,139 Israelis have died so far. But as reported by the Reuters, number of death of  Palestinians has reached 21,978. It seems that not Palestine but Israel is the sole authority to set that exchange price.

Israel’s police and army say the final words regarding law and order in both parts of Palestine i.e. Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians have no minimum opportunity to organise any peaceful movement against Israeli occupation on their country. So, armed militant resistance has inevitably crept up. Once there was Fatah in the West Bank, now Hamas has taken that place in Gaza.

Palestinians are deprived of a recognised state. So, there is no regular army. Hamas militants are not professional soldiers. They have no separate camp, barracks or base. They conduct armed resistance by mixing with common people.

So, to make Gaza free from Hamas, it must be depopulated. An ambience is to be created that living in Gaza is impossible. Perhaps that is the main objective of Israel. Northern Gaza is now almost a debris. Central Gaza is also fast moving towards that situation.

People are fleeing to the south where one-and-a-half lakhs people are living but around more two lakhs are seeking shelter. Commercial activities are completely closed in Gaza. No food, no fuel. Thousands of people are trying to survive by pitching tents in open fields. Winter has come.

The United Nations aid agency says more than 100 of its workers have died in Gaza during last two months. Unless the war stops, the UN will not be able to provide aid there. Due to lack of food, drinking water and proper sanitary environment, there is an imminent possibility of epidemics and famine.

Humanity is the most talked word all over the world. Looking at the terrible scenes of dead, crippled, bloodied children buried under bomb blast and broken houses on television screen people all over the world are demanding, ‘Stop this killing immediately’.

Even America is also forced to admit with crocodile tears that something should be done to alleviate the suffering of common people even if the war continues.

The endangered people of Gaza may try to cross the Rafah border gate to enter into Egypt. Then these American leaders may say that for the sake of humanity Egypt or Jordan should provide shelter for the victims of Gaza. Leaders of Israel will say the disaster is over. Gaza is now deserted. All quiet on the Gaza front.

No ceasefire has occurred. What will happen next? American leaders have announced that after the end of the war Palestine will be established as an independent state next to Israel.

This is the two state solution. A proverb says, the dog wags the tail or tail wags the dog. The government of Israel knows that pro-Israel influence in American politics is so powerful that America cannot do anything against Israel. Therefore, Israel can continue the war as long as it thinks necessary.

The Palestinian people, on the other hand, believe that they have every legitimate right to resist Israeli domination over them. They have been resisting for the last seventy five years.

It is certain that the Palestinian freedom fighters are born living within the ongoing genocide in Gaza today. They will continue that fight. Palestine’s liberation war will not stop.

(The writer is a former Commissioner of Taxes.)