By killing and wounding this number of Palestinians, Israel had hoped that the masses would retreat, the protests would subside and, eventually, end. This was not the case, of course.
Why did Israel kill many unarmed Gaza protesters and wound over 2,000 on Friday, March 30, and on the following days, even though they clearly posed no threat to Israeli soldiers?
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers, many of them snipers, were deployed to the deadly buffer zone that the Israeli army has created between besieged Gaza and Israel, as tens of thousands of Palestinian families held mass rallies at the border.
“Yesterday we saw 30,000 people,” tweeted the Israeli army on March 31. “We arrived prepared and with precise reinforcements. Nothing was carried out uncontrolled; everything was accurate and measured, and we know where every bullet landed.”
The tweet, which was captured by the Israeli rights group, B’Tselem, was soon deleted. The Israeli army must have realized that killing children and bragging about it on social media is too cruel, even for them.
Palestinian popular mobilization deeply concerns Israel, partly because it is a PR nightmare. By killing and wounding this number of Palestinians, Israel had hoped that the masses would retreat, the protests would subside and, eventually, end. This was not the case, of course.
But there is more to Israeli fear. The power of the Palestinian people, when united beyond factional allegiances, is immense. It disrupts Israel’s political and military tactics entirely, and places Tel Aviv wholly on the defensive.
Israel killed those Palestinians precisely to avoid this nightmarish scenario. Since the cold-blooded murder of innocent people did not go unnoticed, it is important that we dig deeper into the social and political context that led tens of thousands of Palestinians to camp and rally at the border.
Gaza is being suffocated. Israel’s decade-long blockade, combined with Arab neglect and a prolonged feud between Palestinian factions, have all served to drive Palestinians to the brink of starvation and political despair. Something has to give.
Last week’s act of mass mobilization was not just about underscoring the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees (as enshrined in international law), nor about commemorating Land Day, an event that has united all Palestinians since the bloody protests of 1976. The protest was about reclaiming the agenda, transcending political infighting and giving voice back to the people.
There are many historical similarities between this act of mobilization and the context that preceded the First Intifada (or ‘uprising’) of 1987. At the time, Arab governments in the region had relegated the Palestinian cause to the status of ‘someone else’s problem’. By the end of 1982, having already been exiled to Lebanon, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) along with thousands of Palestinian fighters, were pushed even further away to Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen and various other countries. This geographic isolation left the traditional leadership of Palestine irrelevant to what was happening on the ground.
In that moment of utter hopelessness, something snapped. In December 1987, people (mostly children and teenagers) took to the streets, in a largely non-violent mobilization that lasted over six years, culminating in the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993.
Today, the Palestinian leadership is in a similar state of increasing irrelevance. Isolated, again, by geography (Fatah holding the West Bank, Hamas Gaza), but also by ideological division.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah is rapidly losing its credibility among Palestinians, thanks to long-standing accusations of corruption, with calls for the PA leader Mahmoud Abbas to resign (his mandate having technically expired in 2009). Last December, US President Donald Trump compounded the isolation of the PA, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in defiance of international law and UN consensus. Many see this act as the precursor designed to further marginalize the PA.
Hamas—originally a grassroots movement born out of the refugee camps in Gaza during the First Intifada—is now similarly weakened by political isolation.
Recently, there seemed to be a ray of hope. After several failed initiatives towards reconciliation with Fatah, a deal was signed between both rival parties in Cairo last October.
Alas, like previous attempts, it began to falter almost immediately. The first hurdle came on March 13, when the convoy of PA Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, was the target of an apparent assassination attempt. Hamdallah was en-route to Gaza through an Israeli border crossing. The PA quickly blamed Hamas for the attack which the latter vehemently denied. Palestinian politics went back to square one.
But then, last week happened. As thousands of Palestinians walked peacefully into the deadly ‘buffer zone’ along the Gaza border into the sights of Israeli snipers, their intention was clear: to be seen by the world as ordinary citizens, to show themselves as ordinary human beings, people who, until now, have been made invisible behind the politicians.
Gazans pitched tents, socialized and waved Palestinian flags—not the banners of the various factions. Families gathered, children played, even circus clowns entertained. It was a rare moment of unity.
The Israeli army’s response, using the latest technology in exploding bullets, was predictable. By shooting dead 15 unarmed protesters and wounding 773 people on the first day alone, the aim was to discipline the Palestinians.
Condemnations of this massacre flooded in from respected figures around the world, like Pope Francis and Human Rights Watch. This glimmer of attention may have provided Palestinians with an opportunity to elevate the injustice of the siege up the global political agenda, but is, sadly, of little consolation to the families of the dead.
Aware of the international spotlight, Fatah immediately took credit for this spontaneous act of popular resistance. Deputy Chairman, Mahmoud Al-Aloul, said that the protesters mobilized to support the PA “in the face of pressure and conspiracies concocted against our cause,” undoubtedly referring to Trump’s strategy of isolation towards the Fatah-dominated PA.
But this is not the reality. This is about the people finding expression outside the confines of factional interests; a new strategy. This time, the world must listen.
At least 12 of those killed were known members of Palestinian terrorist groups.
Eight of the men killed were members of Hamas, One served in the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, which is affiliated with Fatah and another was identified as a global jihadist activist. Sari Abu Odeh, was a member of the terror group’s elite Nukhba force and that another, Muhammad Abu Amro, served in its tunnel operations. Mussa’b al-Saloul as one of the two Hamas membes.
Hamas publicly acknowledged that five members of its Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, were among the fatalities and were hiding among the civilian population, using them as human shields – a war crime under international law.
Palestinian rioters threw firebombs and stones at troops, tried to bomb and breach the security fence, burned tires, and in one case opened fire at Israeli soldiers.
The IDF targeted only those taking explicit violent action against Israeli troops and those trying to damage or breach the security fence.
Hamas was deliberately putting civilians at risk to exploit any casualties as propaganda against the Jewish State. A seven-year-old girl, who was pushed towards the fence in an apparent attempt to draw Israeli fire. The army spotted the child and returned her unharmed.
Here is a novel ideal Hamas, hold you riot in the main streets of Gaza away from the security fence where you feel the overpowering urge to gang rush. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/05aa126789448502bdb4a36ec3810042fedd735caf0f853b7cefa2f10a63213b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/179d413e6f0087367461a77c2884111c20e5bd6cdddb436ed913a001e4fbfbe8.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5a17e238fe47607ea75653e2ee92f1aaf3f483e7bb3db755584929ef9eb4eb49.jpg
The world needs more Zionist apologists like you, Kirby. I detest violence, but I detest violence in the name of an established government even more. Everyone has the most basic right to defend themselves, even those who lack the tools and knowledge to do so. People learn and acquire tools. For Zionists to whine about Palestinians using Zionist tactics against Israel is the height of hypocrisy. There are only two ways to conquer a people; kill them (genocide in the conventional sense) or assimilate them (cultural genocide). Putting them on reserves doesn’t really work in the long run (think South Africa and North American Indians). The Irish beat the British by a combination of violence and diplomacy. In the end the Palestinians will do the same, if they don’t all die when Israel suffers a nuclear “accident”.
No need to apologize for Israel, I just let the facts speak for themselves.
“REPORT: 80% OF PALESTINIANS KILLED IN GAZA BORDER CRISIS WERE ‘TERRORISTS’
A report by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center said that 26 of the 32 Palestinians killed were connected to terror organizations.
Around 80% of the 32 Palestinians killed by the IDF during the ongoing Gaza border crisis were terrorist operatives or identified with terrorist organizations”
Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Abbas’ Adviser on Islamic Affairs and his Supreme Sharia Judge, delivered a sermon last Friday from Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah, in the presence of Abbas. In the speech, Al-Habbash accused Hamas of deliberately encouraging civilians to endanger themselves”
Things happen when you try and breach a security fence that has seen 18,000+ rockets launched over it, numerous terror tunnels dug under it and many terrorists infiltrating though it, all with the same objective of killing Israelis. If it were anywhere else a head shot would have been performed. The soldier in question protected his country from another terrorist action much to your chagrined and my deep admiration and appreciation. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/489aba65c28218d95ccb7306d98dfc388bff1b86d351908e084706bc5fdc711f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7644cb283f5dfd26c21a61962f8c34352f24f14b55ed4dc63d301ac745d594f3.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f8fb003c2ce42822d6b8d4b45388bc8215f2da532832918dfc0a2266ef689ddb.jpg
It`s shameful that the so called “Democratic West” turns a blind eye to the Genocidal Apartheid that has been practiced by Zionist Israel from the very beginning, indeed the “Democratic West” gives tacit approval to the racist actions of Zionist Israel.
In the past few days, over 30 peacefully protesting Palestinians have been shot dead by Zionist troops, even posting a video of the targeted shooting of a stationary Palestinian in Gaza with triumphant celebration of the murder. Hundreds more Palestinians have been injured by Zionist Israeli soldiers gunfire
Zionist Israel also killed 14 Syrians when attacking a Syrian Airfield, taking the total killings to at least 45.
The response in the mainstream Western Media is a deafening silence.
Compare that with the Democratic Wests response to unsubstantiated claims of Chemical use by Syria (Or Russia) and the declarations of “Actions to be taken” by Donald Trump, Ignoring Syrian and Russian demands for a United Nations inquiry into the situation.
The claim by the “Western World” that it holds the moral high ground, has no basis in reality.
100 years of residence of two peoples on a narrow strip of land proved that Jews and Arabs can not and should not live in one country. Every nation must live in its own country. This is the essence of the UN decision on the partition of Palestine.
ALL Jews were expelled from the Gaza Strip and from areas A and B.
It’s time to ALL 6 million Arabs of Palestine to obtain the citizenship of the Palestinian National Autonomy.
Only then will begin economical, political and physical separation between Jews and Arabs.
Without this, peace in Palestine is impossible.
The UN partition plan was part of the problem. It helped cause the conflict. This is not the solution. Implementation of the two-state solution, yes, is a necessary step. But for true peace and justice, a single democratic state respecting the equal rights of all citizens would seem to be ideal.
You seem to forget, Marc, that The Hebrews originated in what is now Iraq (When it was Egypt obviously), Abraham was born in the ancient city of Ur, close to to-days Basra.
That would make Abraham, and the Hebrews, what to-day we would call “Arabs” – There are Jewish, Christian and Moslem Arabs, The struggle to-day in Palestine is between Palestinian Arabs and Zionist immigrants of mostly European origin.
Ariel Sharon enforced Zionist colonists removal fro Gaza, and Zionist Israel never implemented it`s agreement to withdraw from the Palestinian West Bank as part of the Oslo Accord- indeed Yitzhak Rabin who made the peace agreement was assassinated by a Zionist Israeli.
There are 12 million Palestinians (5 million UN registered Palestinian refugees, 2 million in the Gaza Ghetto, 3 million West Bank Palestinians and 2 million Residential Citizens (Not full citizens) living within current Zionist Israeli borders.
Only some 6 million Israelis, who openly demand an exclusive Zionist home for Colonists of mostly European origin requiring the removal of the intrinsic Palestinian population, a situation that requires force of arms on a permanent basis.
Blame the European Nationalistic Racist Zionist Political Party for the situation, don`t hide behind the skirts of Judaism.
Zionism is a disgrace to Judaism – Zionist Israel brings shame upon Jews.
Israel feels threatened by Palestinians for the same reason Canada, the U.S., Britain and France feel threatened by Syrian refugees. Drive people off their land, destroy their homes, bomb them, shoot them, starve them, deny them medical attention and a guilt driven fear develops. After all, the Israelis, Canadians, Americans, British and French say to themselves, “if someone did that to me I would fight back and kill the oppressors.” No matter how Israelis and their apologists try to spin it, Palestinians have the same right to fight back against Israel and Israeli enablers as German and other European Jews had to fight back against the Nazis. I consider the Warsaw Ghetto Jews who fought the Nazis to be heroes of humanity. I regard the Palestinians who resist Israel to also be heroes of humanity. Zionism may have started out as a social good, but then so did National Socialism in Germany. Both movements were hijacked by fanatical murderers. There is no difference between a David Ben-Gurion and an Adolph Hitler, aside from Israeli control of the international press, media and foreign governments who could but won’t stop the evil actions of the Zionists.