Gaza's co-benefits
The death of a single person is absolutely unacceptable for the vast majority of human beings on planet Earth, but not for everyone. In this world we have learned that there are no coincidences, that collateral damage is often calculated and that on too many occasions it is the main objective behind the magnitude of the tragedy that has been provoked to mask what is really intended.
The serious confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians is not new, but dates back to the UN decision on partition and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the Nabka for the Palestinians, with several wars between Arabs and Israelis, thousands of deaths and thousands of people living in precarious conditions, a situation that extremists have taken advantage of for their own benefit. One of the many problems of this ancient conflict is the polarisation of opinions, the religiously tinged emotions in Ramadan and the lack of equanimity. No one is innocent, everyone is guilty, but some more than others. The question is why has violence erupted on such a scale and who benefits or harms? Tension over the celebration of the Nabka or the occupation of houses and territories is, unfortunately, commonplace.
This year, however, Hamas militias fired hundreds of rockets, not five or ten, at Israeli cities, provoking an anticipated and very forceful Israeli retaliation. Now we are talking about thousands of rockets and shelling from both sides, with the brunt going to the weakest, the civilian Palestinians. It seems that someone has calculated this new crisis that can cover up or justify almost anything: the risk of civil war between Israelis and Arabs in cities with mixed populations; the cancellation of Palestinian elections that were to be held after 15 years; the precarious living conditions in Gaza due to Hamas's abysmal management; the permanent division among Palestinians; political reinforcement for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu; electoral backing for the Iranian regime in the next presidential elections; pressure on Iran to lift international sanctions and resume negotiations on its nuclear programme; a rift between the US and its European allies over disparity of support; division in the US Democratic Party; serious differences within the EU; engaging the Biden Administration without a clear plan; frustrating Saudi Arabia's more than potential relations with Israel and attempting to alienate those who had established them, such as the UAE and Morocco. There is more, but let everyone draw their own conclusions. I fear that for some evil-minded person, so many Palestinian and Israeli deaths, destruction, hatred and fear, are well worth the collateral benefits they provoke.