| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:An ageing student writes | |
| Posted by: | Steven Rose | |
| Date/Time: | 11/09/25 10:13:00 |
| Michael, I am not sure you understand my point. It has been suggested that Israel is wrong to inflict collective punishment on the Palestinian population of Gaza for the crimes of Hamas since Hamas and the Palestinians are not the same thing. I think the distinction between the two is rather facile. Hamas won the election in 2006 with almost half the popular vote despite its genocidal charter. Since then Hamas has enjoyed widespread support among Gazans, to the extent of recruiting an army of up to 40 000 militants, almost a fifth of the population. You will also recall the exultant cheers of the civilian population as the body of the German/Israeli girl, who had evidently been raped and tortured, was paraded on the back of a truck around the streets of Gaza after October 7. So no, with the exception of a few brave Palestinians who have tried to stand up to Hamas, it is not so easy to distinguish between Hamas and the civilian population. But even so the IDF have tried to reduce casualties among non-combatants. There are several parallels between Hamas and the Nazis. The Nazis also came to power after winning almost half the popular vote in an election, they too had a programme to exterminate the Jews, they too wished to impose their will on the surrounding region and they too enjoyed considerable popular support until they started losing the war. I don't think there were many voices raised in protest in Britain against the campaign to defeat the Nazis. No one, or hardly anyone, said it was wrong to inflict collective punishment on the German people because of the actions of Hitler and the Nazis. The Allies prosecuted the war until the Germans surrendered. But Hamas have not surrendered. They are still firing on Israeli soldiers, they are still holding the hostages, they are still stealing food, they are still administering punishment beatings to the few Palestinians who actively oppose them. Yet many people in this country are calling on Israelis to agree to a ceasefire which would leave the remnants of Hamas' army, still numbering perhaps 20 000, in control of parts of Gaza until the next pogrom. Why would the Israelis do this? I won't answer Gerry's abusive rant except to say that the accusations of genocide and torture are hysterical blood libels. |