In a recent press conference, John Kirby acknowledged Hamas‘ resilience in Gaza, a sentiment echoed by the United States. This comes amidst growing skepticism about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu‘s strategies in the conflict. Kirby’s response to a journalist’s sharply sarcastic question about the remaining Hamas members to be eliminated only solidifies the perception of Hamas’ enduring strength. This aligns with my previous column’s argument: Israel’s actions result in a high civilian casualty rate relative to the militant targets they claim to address. Simply put, there’s an inverse relationship between the number of Hamas militants and the civilian casualties caused by Israel – more civilian deaths for fewer militant casualties.
Netanyahu is losing this war. He lacks the means to decisively defeat Hamas. Israel faces a dilemma: either withdraw from all occupied territories or continue with what the data suggests – a form of ethnic cleansing. Since October 8th last year, Israel has dropped 29,000 bombs on Gaza, 45% of which are unguided, indiscriminately targeting civilians to force mass displacement. This directly contradicts Netanyahu’s narrative, echoed by some Italian media, that the high Palestinian death toll is due to Hamas using civilians as human shields. The figures don’t support this claim; it’s implausible that 23,000 civilians were used as human shields.
The media narrative surrounding U.S. Secretary of State Blinken’s Middle East visit is misleading. It suggests his mission is to prevent conflict escalation, but the reality seems otherwise. Blinken’s efforts are not to stop the massacre in Gaza but to ensure no Islamic country retaliates against Israel. There’s nothing humane about a mission that enables Israel to continue its actions against Palestinians without international repercussion, as evidenced by the U.S. veto of a UN Security Council ceasefire proposal.
If Italian media weren’t deeply biased, these issues would be a daily topic on TV. Instead, we hear a different story – one that blames Hamas for all Gaza casualties, absolving Israel. But this logic falls apart under scrutiny. For instance, if Israel were to use a nuclear weapon on Gaza, would they still be blameless? The ethical and political question that arises is: Where does Israel’s impunity end?
The Meloni government’s refusal to target the Houthi in defense of Israel raises another question: Does this label Italy as an enemy of Israel, justifying attacks on Italians? This reflects a broader Western pattern of labeling anyone an ‘enemy of Israel,’ stripping them of human rights, and justifying their killing. It’s the same with nations. The West, notorious for violating international law, has turned Gaza into a manifestation of its impact on Palestine. As my Omani friend once remarked during my visit there: “Western democracy? Keep it as far away from us as possible. It brings death and destruction everywhere.” The West loves freedom so much it seems to keep it all for itself.
Il Fatto Quotidiano, January 9, 2024
