The Horrors of Hamas-Israel War, and Our Priorities
October 12, 2023
We must unequivocally condemn the atrocities Hamas launched against Israeli civilians beginning on October 7. These were acts of terror. This was not resistance to occupation. Indiscriminate violence targeted civilians. Hundreds of innocents were killed, together with a handful of Israeli soldiers.
Atrocity leads to atrocity and breeds cycles of violence. Israel has a right to defend itself when under attack but any response that is contemplated cannot then intentionally target Palestinian civilians. Destroying their means of survival is barbaric, illegal and a war crime.
The greater victims again will be Palestinian civilians who now face a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza from Israeli retaliation, a revenge triggered by Hamas atrocity. These developments also risk widening the conflict.
There is always a context to any conflict. In this disaster there is clear influence from Iran which finances Hamas and wishes to sabotage any Israel-Saudi Arabia rapprochement.
There is also the backdrop of an unresolved occupation, and illegal settlements. We can acknowledge that decades of oppression, years of siege, and international complacency, have led to helplessness — and predictably to the mobilization of extremism and unjustifiable violence.
In this period, Canada must defend international law, and stand against terrorism, but must also oppose vengeful excesses and escalation that could follow.
Support also the initiative of the International Criminal Court prosecutor to investigate all crimes committed.
Most urgently support delivery of emergency medical, clothing, water and food aid to Gaza residents. This is a time to pressure all sides as soon as is feasible to reach a ceasefire so peace talks, and the long process of reconstruction can begin.
You can help:
https://donate.savethechildren.ca
Go unequivocally condemn Israel. You know VERY little about the issue.