The Morality of The Israeli Army
Gaza Strip 1st of August 2006
Today the Israeli Occupying Forces redeployed into the area south east of Rafah, targetting Alshoukas village. They launched a big military operation against the village in a desperate attempt to demolish alleged tunnels. At least 50 army tanks along with helicopters and drones took part in this operation. What concerned me is that 8 people were killed, amongst them 2 Palestinian fighters, and the rest were civilians including one boy age 11. 26 people were injured, ten are in serious conditions.
The health emergency teams were not allowed entry to rescue the injured for 12 hours, leaving the injured to face their destinies. I am sure, as are my colleagues at the Rafah hospital, that this inhuman act increased the number of the dead and seriously injured. During the operation, ambulances were also attacked by shelling at the hospital's gate. Tens of families in the village were forced to leave their homes; children, women and men left their homes because the shelling was too severe/
What of morality? Of the Fourth Geneva convention and its charters regarding civilians and the safety of health teams working during war times? This accord means nothing and is not respected by the Israeli army. For us here in Palestine, we know very well that Israel, with its colonial-Zionist ideology, aims to kill more and more Palestinian civilians. During its so called military operations to "defend its security", hundreds of civilians including entire families were unnecessarily killed.
Israel aims to break the Palestinian people's will and determination to achieve their inalienable nationals goals. I said before they will not succeed and I am saying it again and again. It is impossible to control an entire nation using collective punishment and continuous occupation. It is impossible to confiscate am entire nation's right of freedom and self-determination. Israel and the United States should read history lessons.
Here in Gaza City the artillery shelling continued in the east and north. We don’t have air raids shelters, we don't have electricity, we don’t have clean water. The war boats patrol the sea and the helicopters continue their shelling at all times of the day. Lately, Israel has also been distributiing of flyers against resistance movement.
I was in the Omar Elmukhtar high street and watched the sarcastic expression on the faces of a bunch of teenagers as they picked up these flyers and read them. I remembered myself as a teenager during 1967 war time. I read the same sort of flyers and laughed. Israel aims to make Palestinian people hungry, thirsty, to make us face humanitarian disaster after humanitarian disaster, and dependent on the world's sympathy.
We are a nation with a noble cause; we resist injustice and occupation. We are not alone and we know that very well. What we face is the most ugly version of the United States' imbalanced policies in the Middle East. The immorality and injustice of these policies will reflect itself on the future of USA, let us wait and see.
P.S. I was asked by some of you why I keep referring to the Israeli army as occupying army. This is the truth AND I AM SAYING THE TRUTH. The disengagement plan from Gaza last Septemper did not end the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. All it has meant for me is that I can visit my mother in the south (20 km drive) without passing through the Israeli checkpoints. But I am still under the threat of the jetfighters, sonic booms, and continuous shelling from the north and east. Israel still has control of the commercial borders and has closed them at will causing shortages of baby formula, bread, food, and medicine. Israel and the rest of the world have imposed economic sanctions on us as a collective punishment for our choice during the January election. How would you define the above but occupation?
In love and solidarity
Mona
Today the Israeli Occupying Forces redeployed into the area south east of Rafah, targetting Alshoukas village. They launched a big military operation against the village in a desperate attempt to demolish alleged tunnels. At least 50 army tanks along with helicopters and drones took part in this operation. What concerned me is that 8 people were killed, amongst them 2 Palestinian fighters, and the rest were civilians including one boy age 11. 26 people were injured, ten are in serious conditions.
The health emergency teams were not allowed entry to rescue the injured for 12 hours, leaving the injured to face their destinies. I am sure, as are my colleagues at the Rafah hospital, that this inhuman act increased the number of the dead and seriously injured. During the operation, ambulances were also attacked by shelling at the hospital's gate. Tens of families in the village were forced to leave their homes; children, women and men left their homes because the shelling was too severe/
What of morality? Of the Fourth Geneva convention and its charters regarding civilians and the safety of health teams working during war times? This accord means nothing and is not respected by the Israeli army. For us here in Palestine, we know very well that Israel, with its colonial-Zionist ideology, aims to kill more and more Palestinian civilians. During its so called military operations to "defend its security", hundreds of civilians including entire families were unnecessarily killed.
Israel aims to break the Palestinian people's will and determination to achieve their inalienable nationals goals. I said before they will not succeed and I am saying it again and again. It is impossible to control an entire nation using collective punishment and continuous occupation. It is impossible to confiscate am entire nation's right of freedom and self-determination. Israel and the United States should read history lessons.
Here in Gaza City the artillery shelling continued in the east and north. We don’t have air raids shelters, we don't have electricity, we don’t have clean water. The war boats patrol the sea and the helicopters continue their shelling at all times of the day. Lately, Israel has also been distributiing of flyers against resistance movement.
I was in the Omar Elmukhtar high street and watched the sarcastic expression on the faces of a bunch of teenagers as they picked up these flyers and read them. I remembered myself as a teenager during 1967 war time. I read the same sort of flyers and laughed. Israel aims to make Palestinian people hungry, thirsty, to make us face humanitarian disaster after humanitarian disaster, and dependent on the world's sympathy.
We are a nation with a noble cause; we resist injustice and occupation. We are not alone and we know that very well. What we face is the most ugly version of the United States' imbalanced policies in the Middle East. The immorality and injustice of these policies will reflect itself on the future of USA, let us wait and see.
P.S. I was asked by some of you why I keep referring to the Israeli army as occupying army. This is the truth AND I AM SAYING THE TRUTH. The disengagement plan from Gaza last Septemper did not end the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. All it has meant for me is that I can visit my mother in the south (20 km drive) without passing through the Israeli checkpoints. But I am still under the threat of the jetfighters, sonic booms, and continuous shelling from the north and east. Israel still has control of the commercial borders and has closed them at will causing shortages of baby formula, bread, food, and medicine. Israel and the rest of the world have imposed economic sanctions on us as a collective punishment for our choice during the January election. How would you define the above but occupation?
In love and solidarity
Mona
posted by Mona_Elfarra at
5:24 PM
13 Comments:
The Israeli occupying forces have made Gaza the world's largest prison.
Because the warden moved his family out of the prison does not mean the inmates are free
By
Moses, at 8/03/2006 6:51 PM
Hi, I would like to offer you my solidarity. I spent last summer in the West Bank researching for my Masters thesis. It was at the time of the gaza withdrawal.
In my time there I witnessed communities having their land stolen from them in the name of Israel's security for the security barrier/apartheid wall. When the local communities organised peaceful demonstrations against the wall they were met with military agression and administrative detention.
For those of you who don't know that means arresting people at demonstrations or who are suspected of involvement in militias without trial and without knowing what their crime is. Many of these are children.
Everyday I saw the local population harassed, old women having to wait hours at check points by surly youths. young men with nothing to do and nothing to look forward to who could have gained a PHD in stone throwing. Valuable water diverted to settlements, roads that only travellers could travel on forcing the locals to make journeys of up to hours out of their way to go 15 minutes. Houses demolished because they were built without permits which the Israelis refuse to grant to Palestinians. Families who can never reunify because their relatives live in Gaza.
The 8000 settlers pulled out of Gaza was a tiny fraction of the 400 000 ilegal settlers in the west bank. The majority of those have settled post-oslo disregarding international law to create "facts on the ground". In other words a land grab.
The West Bank was bad but everyone told me that conditions in Gaza were so much worse. And now the war in Lebannon is conveniently diverting peoples' attention from the Palestinains who are dying everyday. 8 today including an 8 year old boy.
The old mantra of without a just peace for Palestinisn based not soley on Israels security needs ,but on the realisation of Palestinian aspirations there will be no peace in the region, is so true.
I applaud a stoical and opressed people but also those in the Israeli peace camp that realise you can't bomb your way to peace.
By
fififixit, at 8/03/2006 8:11 PM
You're absolutely right Mona .. the occupation of Gaza did NOT stop!
The Palestinian people are GREAT .. full of resiliance, perseverance and dignity - I HIGHLY respect tham for that! Why don't you send these letters to US-Senators? Kofi Annan? Bush (who will certainly NOT get to see it)? Olmert? The Read Cross? Amnesty? the internet is a GREAT tool ...
It is DEAD-against the Fourth Geneva Concention not to allow aid to the injured ... it is an absolute CRIME!! They do NOT stand above the law ... and they did NOT make the law!
How is Sondos holding up?
BIG hug for BOTH od you!!
STAY STONG GUYS ... WE'RE WITH YOU ALL THE TIME!!
By
Karin, at 8/03/2006 9:55 PM
'The immorality and injustice of these policies will reflect itself on the future of USA, let us wait and see.'
I think that process began some time ago but only among those who looked underneath the news. The possible effects of such longterm immorality and injustice are now being realised across the board and some prominent Americans, even Republicans, have realised that the US, if it wants any credibility in the region in future, needs to unhitch itself from Israeli war crimes. Without credibility in the Middle East, the future of the USA does look cloudy.
But all that is a long way down the track and while American ignorance continues, people like you and your community suffer.
By
Glenn Condell, at 8/04/2006 4:07 AM
I am confused as to what you think war is. It makes no sense to bomb people and then let emergency personnel in to help them. If that is what you think war is, then I am not surprised that the Arabs have lost every war they have ever fought with Israel. Letting help in is defeating the purpose of war. Do you think Hizballah would let ambulances in to save Israelis? They would not, because the Arabs would tear the woulded Jews apart with their bare hands before the help got there. I think that we in the US and the UN should stay out of this conflict and let you all just fight to the death. Lets just finish this and get it over with. If you get your wish and anihilate Israel will you then stop your violence? Doubtful, as you seem to turn against each other when a jew is not available.
By
Miss Carnivorous, at 8/05/2006 2:06 AM
Ha-ha ... now THAT'S a new one! Mona - I hope you know it is YOU who is an occupier!!
Thanks Chenyok for enlightening us with this wisdom ... you got stuck sometime between Ramses II and Nebukadnezzar, didn't even see the Greek and Roman Empire, in other words, you're a wee-bit behind your time!
By
Karin, at 8/05/2006 6:28 PM
Hey Munich,
While I don't agree with Chenyok that Jews have a right because the Torah said so, I do want to point out that Jews have been living in the land that is Israel for thousands of years, long before "Palestenians" decided it was there land. So don't laugh and learn your history.
By
PetiteDov, at 8/07/2006 5:39 PM
Petitedov: There were a few thousand Jews in Palestine prior to the British Mandate, Jews who were truly native. Compared to half a million Arabs.
You may have a point about historical claims to the land, but you've just got it backwards. The Palestinians are the ones who have been there for "thousands of years", and who's land was taken from them almost one hundred years ago.
I for one don't put a lot of weight on arguments of historical right. The fact is that Israel is there, and isn't leaving. This doesn't mean there cannot be peace. Israel must withdraw (not just settlers, but the military too) to the 1967 lines, out of the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinians must be permitted to participate in international trade, to live normal lives, and to rebuild their civilian infrastructure. The current occupation really is inexcusable.
By
Phil, at 8/21/2006 1:22 AM
The Israeli Zionist dream for Palestine is coming true. Deprived of food, water electricity, money, medical care, safety, leadership, and official outside help, the Palestinians are turning on each other as they struggle to survive.
But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has made it clear that this is only the beginning.
“Nobody dies from not having electricity”, Olmert is said to have told his cabinet, and “no one in Gaza should sleep.” Emphasizing that last point, low-flying IDF jets break the sound barrier over Gaza virtually every night.
Can you see it? Children huddled with parents unable to sleep at all.
The Palestinian government disaster was deliberately contrived by:
Israel
United States
European Union
United Nations
To add more to the Palestinian misery, the Israel Defense Force is conducting daily raids, bombings, attacks, kidnappings, and interference with human movements.
The goal is to contrive the utter collapse of Palestinian society, while goading as many as possible into leaving, dying, or killing each other.
The Olmert government or its Zionist backers hardly care which.
THE USUAL SCENARIO WHEN THE WORLD IS LOOKING AWAY:
While the outside world has been more or less fixated on Lebanon, the IDF and the Mossad have been conducting intensive warfare and political harassment in Gaza and the West Bank. This is nothing new.
The Israelis have taken much of the parliament, many cabinet members, and the Deputy Prime Minister hostage; they use the euphemism “arrest” for what they do.
In pure Zionist fashion, they have threatened to assassinate the Prime Minister and have bombed his and other government offices.
Israel has progressively disassembled the democratically elected Palestinian Government by kidnappings, and it is doubtful that without an international outcry that so far h as not been forthcoming, I hardly doubt these prisoners will ever be released.
Instead they may join the ranks of the estimated 10,000 Palestinian hostages the Israelis have held without charge for over 25 years.
By
Rhiannon, at 9/16/2006 5:11 AM
The Jews were given Israel on CONDITIONS. They were to obey God's laws. They didn't. They sinned. They were to live in exile from then on.
This is stated in the Torah, the Old Testament, and the Quran.
The ancestry of most of the Jews in America and in Israel actually go back centuries ago from EASTERN EUROPE.
However, the Palestinians have complete TOTAL RIGHTS as they have stayed in Palestine for centuries and currently.
The Zionists (of EASTERN EUROPE ANCESTRY) were not succesful in rooting the Palestinians out of their homeland completely.
The Zionists tried with their well-planned massacres, and it's true, the Deir Yassin massacre was planned extensively for several years.
In 1948 the Israel army massacred several Palestinian towns early on to terrorize the population so they would flee. It worked partly.
And let us not forget the first bombers were JEWS who were blowing up British bases in Palestine because they were trying to stop the flow of ZIONISTS flocking to Palestine. The first plane ever hijacked was by a Jew.
The fact is that the Jews had their philosophical golden age under the Islamic Empire. The Muslims and Jews have always been on good terms and still are to this day.
The present problems started in 1948 when zionists from the USA and Europe went campaigning for a state of Israel and claiming “A land without a people for a people without a land” ignoring the millions of Palestinians living in Palestine.
By
Rhiannon, at 9/16/2006 5:57 AM
Dearest Mona,
I knew as I saw the so-called jewish settlers being carried out from the homes they lived in the Gaza Strip, I knew that it would not mean the end of the occupation. Instead, this was just another way for Israel to say to the world: See? Look what we are doing in the name of peace.
But if the world could see what Israel is doing to the Palestinian and Lebanese children, and to the Iraqi children now as well, the world would have a different view of Israel.
Where I live, several years ago, some Palestinian people had gotten permission from the city public library to set up a booth and show pictures of the devastation of the Territories done by Israel.
In a few days the Library told them to close their booth down. You can just imagine why, Mona, but I'll tell you anyway. The Jewish organization shrieked anti-semitism once again (Palestinians are also semites, for crying out loud!) and they demanded the booth taken down or they wouldn't donate funds to the library.
This is the usual way in North America when it comes to the so-called Jewish lobbies.
At a University, just a few weeks ago, a big exhibition was set up in a recreation center showing the terrible things happening to Iraq. That was successful and I heard nothing of any threats or complaints against this exhibition. But the difference is that Israel and Zionism was never mentioned.
They don't want people to figure the connection between Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.
By
Rhiannon, at 9/21/2006 12:19 AM
Est ce que les citoyens d'un pays démocratique ne sont pas responsable du choix qu'ils on fais ? La décision de voter pour un quelconque dirigeant est naturellement faite compte tenu de ses idées, ses buts, sa politique.
Ce qui fait de chacun d'entre nous responsable des faits de ce dit gouvernement, qui agit en notre nom.
Je crains que de diversifier les citoyens d'un pays de leur gouvernement soit une pensée purement antidémocratique, et nous place en position d'irresponsables voir même d'idiots. Ceci même est en flagrante contradiction avec l'essence même de la démocratie, élu par le peuple et pour le peuple
Loin de surtaxer des populations entières d'irresponsables ou d'idiots il est permit de penser, que tous les peuples vivants dans une démocratie ont le droit de s'approprier les mérites de leurs gouvernant tant bien que leurs erreurs.
Ceci dit, il est évident que le clan des innocents est considérablement restreint vue qu'ils sont directement responsables.
Lorsqu'un postulant quelconque présente comme programme la destruction d'un voisin, son anéantissement physique et appuie son programme par des faits quoi de plus claire comme propagande électorale.
Sur ce, ce même postulant démocratiquement élu agira au nom du peuple qui l'a porté au pouvoir et en toute légitimité.
Les conséquences bonnes ou mauvaises sont alors a partager.
By
agenda, at 1/25/2009 10:42 AM
Est ce que les citoyens d'un pays démocratique ne sont pas responsable du choix qu'ils on fais ? La décision de voter pour un quelconque dirigeant est naturellement faite compte tenu de ses idées, ses buts, sa politique.
Ce qui fait de chacun d'entre nous responsable des faits de ce dit gouvernement, qui agit en notre nom.
Je crains que de diversifier les citoyens d'un pays de leur gouvernement soit une pensée purement antidémocratique, et nous place en position d'irresponsables voir même d'idiots. Ceci même est en flagrante contradiction avec l'essence même de la démocratie, élu par le peuple et pour le peuple
Loin de surtaxer des populations entières d'irresponsables ou d'idiots il est permit de penser, que tous les peuples vivants dans une démocratie ont le droit de s'approprier les mérites de leurs gouvernant tant bien que leurs erreurs.
Ceci dit, il est évident que le clan des innocents est considérablement restreint vue qu'ils sont directement responsables.
Lorsqu'un postulant quelconque présente comme programme la destruction d'un voisin, son anéantissement physique et appuie son programme par des faits quoi de plus claire comme propagande électorale.
Sur ce, ce même postulant démocratiquement élu agira au nom du peuple qui l'a porté au pouvoir et en toute légitimité.
Les conséquences bonnes ou mauvaises sont alors a partager.
By
agenda, at 1/25/2009 10:43 AM
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