Dr John Mohan Razu
Never in recent history we have heard or witnessed in visual media such precision, well-planned, and coordinated attack against a country known for its high levels of security and safety. Israel known for its technological and military superiority, has been under the impression when compared to its neighbors is far above and ahead in arms and ammunitions, military intelligence—having superior strike rates. With all these in mind, the State of Israel under the leadership of far-right Israeli PM Netanyahu went ahead in settling Jews in the occupied areas such as West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza – all at the cost of Palestinians.
All the negotiations at the international levels over 7-decades failed including two-state formula. Over and above, the State of Israel has a huge support and permanent friend—the United States for other considerations including vote bank politics is compelled to support Israel to the extent of supplying all kinds of war machinery including aid runs to billions every year thwarts the will and resolute of the Palestinians. In such lopsided power equation, thepowerless Palestinians live without human dignity, freedom, and basic rights. In their own milieu they are treated like slaves without any entitlements. What then is the way out?
Only in such contexts help will come in the form of ‘militant outfits’ – in this case Hamas came in support of the Palestinians’ cause. Hamas and Hezbollah have been branded as the terrorist and militant organizations by most of the countries of the world and so do not enjoy any legal status or acceptance. As against the background, the unprecedented assaults on Israel by Hamas on land, water, and air on Saturday, the 7th October, 2023, could perhaps be described as ‘Black Saturday’ by Israel, but for Palestinians and its supporters—a day of reckoning. What really had happened on Saturday was just unbelievable and totally mind-boggling.
It has been unprecedented, appallingswift and sudden on Israel by Hamas in the southern part, sending shock waves across the world. The images were striking as Hamas gunmen bringing seized soldiers and civilians into Gaza on motorbikes and parading the captured Israeli military vehicles through the streets tantamount to far-wider escalation in the conflict in due course. The surprise attack began around 6.30 am with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem hitting buildings. Hamas fighters—travelling in pick-up trucks, speed boats and even using motorized paragliders attacked Israeli towns and military posts sparking gunbattles as panicked residents hit out in bunkers. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians were killed.
What does the entire episode portray. Keeping Palestinians under its controls for decades in their own land shall never be justified—whether one invokes ‘God’s chosen people’ or ‘God on their side’. The State of Israel and the far-rights should realize that they were once slaves – “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today (Deut 15:15). It’s a lesson to those people and countries who think that with the help of military arsenals, high levels of surveillance none can guarantee security what would happen next. Israel cannot keep oppressing and enslaving a mass of people for long. The ambush of Hamas against Israel has totally rattledand hugely bewildered Israel and its allies. Righteous God shall never tolerate unrighteous deeds. Unless and until the root causes of the conflict spanning over seven decades are resolved – political in nature, there will be no lasting peace in Middle East. Justice is the pre-requisite for Peace (shalom).
