“The only alternative to coexistence is co-destruction.”
Jawaharlal Nehru
Perhaps one of the most disastrous forms of crises comes into existence when conflict arises due to ideological, defensive or survival reasons. The magnitude of these conflicts lies in the fact that they would inevitably lead to a strong and intrinsic state of denial. We seem to demonize the other side, which leads to a tendency to guiltlessly destroy them. Even a child is considered acceptable collateral damage. The enemy cannot be human; therefore all the blame will rest on their shoulders.
The blame-game has been in action for far too long. Palestinians, Israelis, Americans, Arab governments, terrorists …they have all been blamed at one point or another. This conflict is not a random event; the history of the Palestinian-Israeli struggle is well known. One of these entities might have initiated the conflict; however all of them have led to its escalation. Without a doubt, certain sides should be held responsible for these horrendous atrocities and some of the decisions made are utterly repulsive. However, the conclusions of who is wrong will not diminish the rapidly increasing death toll. How will accusing another party save the life of an innocent child whose body has been shred to unrecognizable pieces?
The only action we can take now is to create the means for this horror to never be repeated. The ideal situation would be that Palestinians retrieve their land back and for the Jewish community to permanently reside on their Promised Land. But as we know these two realities contradict each other. The truth is both entities now inhabit the same terrain and should learn to do so peacefully.
Both Hamas and the Israeli government have shown reluctance in adhering to the U.N. Security Council’s call for an immediate ceasefire. The fighting has therefore continued; With 854 killed (including 270 children) on the Palestinian side and 13 on the Israeli side. The number of wounded has been even more alarming, with over 3,000 injured. All of this took place within a time frame of 15 days. With such shocking numbers and the substantial loss of children’s lives it is apparent that an immediate ceasefire needs to be implemented and that enduring peace strategies need to be agreed upon.
The Israeli Defense Forces have to stop targeting areas with high civilian rates instantly. Israel firmly claims that it has the right to defend itself. Its reaction though has been an unessential exaggeration at best and a coldblooded massacre at worst. Every country has the right to defend itself. But does that include the genocide of the indigenous people of land considered most holy? What types of self-preservation tactics involve blocking crucial survival supplies from those in grave need? There will be no peaceful existence for Israel if it continues to sustain its presence through violence.
On the other side, there are steps that need to be taken by the Palestinians. Groups, like Hamas, built on the concept of removing Israel off the map, are doing more harm than good. This just serves into Israel’s instinct to defend itself. Hamas has to stop firing rockets at Israel, which only serve to provoke and to provide an excuse for even more ferocious retaliation. Most importantly Hamas has to stop using its own people as human shields, by firing from civilian homes and highly populated areas.
Yet the most essential step from both sides should be the protection of children. The death toll of children is unacceptable. The trauma and crippling effects wars have on children are sometimes too damaging to recover from. Raising children to hate the other side and instilling a mindset that would pursue the eradication of the other will lead to an ongoing cycle of violence. Creating in them the idea of hate as a priority over peace is a devastating tragedy which will inevitably lead to their destruction.
An immediate enduring ceasefire and peace negotiations are the critical step at the moment. We have to be realists. At this point what we should strive for is peaceful coexistence. But what we need is for an assurance that not another innocent child’s blood will spill for reasons he cannot even yet understand.