Danny Marnin, a senior studying journalism, argues that human rights are being violated on both sides of the Middle East conflict.
This coming Monday marks one year since the bloody incident that plunged the Middle East into widespread turmoil, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon.
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a deadly attack against Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people. Hamas is a terrorist organization and is designated as such by the United States. Simply stating that 1,200 people died on October 7 does not even begin to cover the scale of the events that occurred that day. The manner of death of some of the victims was absolutely barbaric, and there are well-documented reports of extensive sexual violence inflicted on victims.
Israel’s response to October 7 was harsh and punitive. It is important to recognize that this is creating a horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel has an obligation to do everything it can to minimize the number of civilian deaths, accidental or otherwise. The confirmed death toll is more than 40,000, including more than 10,000 children. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that eliminating Hamas should not come at the cost of killing 10,000 children. In war, more innocent lives are almost always taken than those of combatants, but it is cruel to simply dismiss the deaths of 10,000 children as collateral damage, solely the fault of Hamas. That’s true. Dehumanizing innocent people cannot be tolerated, and I will not stoop to the level of pretending to do so.
Still, it is true that if October 7th had not happened, all of the 10,000 children and other innocent Palestinians who died would still be alive. It would be foolish to think that when you invade a sovereign country, massacre 1,200 of its citizens, and take another 250 hostages, a war will not start. Of course, this is what Hamas wanted, because they don’t care about innocent Palestinian lives. Hamas military leader Yahwa Sinwar said as much himself, calling the deaths of civilians a “necessary sacrifice.” This is a disgusting ploy, which is why I’m so angry that so many people still cling to the sordid idea that October 7th was a legitimate act of defiance.
I would like to say now that the deaths of innocent Palestinians in this conflict are unjust and tragic. I believe that the best path to peace is a two-state solution that gives Palestinians full autonomy over their own sovereign territory. I believe that Palestinians have a right to exist in the Palestinian Territories and are a people worthy of dignity and respect like any other people.
But I believe the same thing about Israel, and there is no good reason why anyone else should believe the same way. I often see comments from people pointing to how Israel was formed and how its borders expanded as a justification for calling for its disappearance. But does focusing on the past really change anything for the better? The idea that Israel will cease to exist and all its people will be killed or flee is a hateful pipe dream divorced from basic reality.
Someone like me could be forgiven for thinking that Jewish identity had something to do with it. As outlined by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), support from the activist community for Hamas’ actions on October 7 surged within a week after the attack. The crowd, which consistently claims to be anti-war, appears to have no problem with the act of war that took place on October 7th.
Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States increased by 388% in the weeks after October 7 compared to the same period in 2022, according to ADL data. The same applies all over the world. In Germany, authorities reported a 240% increase in anti-Semitic incidents after the attacks. This spring, encampments on college campuses protesting support for Israel became a repository of anti-Semitism.
When it comes to college campuses specifically, the ADL survey found that since October, only 45.5% of Jewish students have reported feeling “very” or “extremely” physically safe on college campuses. 7. Before October 7, this number was 66.6%. Please read it again. Since Oct. 7, the percentage of Jewish college students who feel safe where they attend school has fallen by more than 20 points. How about this?
A survey of American Jews conducted this spring by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) paints a similarly grim picture. 87% of those surveyed said they believe anti-Semitism has been on the rise in the United States since October 7th.
Everywhere you look, this is a very tragic and upsetting situation. October 7th was a brutal terrorist attack that can never be justified. Israel has the right and should eliminate Hamas accordingly. However, a distinction needs to be made between Hamas and the innocent people of Gaza who have borne the brunt of Israel’s response. They are real people who cannot be reduced to mere numbers. The extent to which Palestinians are dehumanized is absolutely outrageous. It can also have dire consequences. A week after October 7, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy was stabbed 26 times to death in Chicago because his mother, who was also stabbed, was Muslim.
Similarly, as already discussed, the amount of anti-Semitism on display in America since October 7th and the attempts to justify the events of October 7th are abhorrent.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a very complex and highly sensitive situation. There are no easy answers. What I wish we could all agree on is that the death of an innocent person should not be celebrated and we should not try to justify it. Let’s at least try to be decent people here. Hating and dehumanizing others will never get anyone closer to where they want to be.
Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.
