Deadly war in Gaza not what most Americans want | Opinion
The great Nelson Mandela once said, "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." We are all aware and condemn the atrocities that took place on Oct. 7. What some may not be aware of is how this has affected some of our fellow Cincinnatians.
As one of the organizers of the Dec. 17 Interfaith Peace Vigil for Gaza, I heard from local Palestinians who spoke about family members being killed by the Israeli military, some children. One speaker said "Israel killed my dearest sister Reham, her husband Zaki and her beautiful children − Khalid, Amal, and baby Zain, who had only lived two days before he was murdered. Israel killed them in their sleep, in the 'safety' of a house that sheltered them after they fled their home."
I heard from a Jewish grandson of Holocaust survivors, who has been calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation and apartheid of Palestinians. He and many others have the heart, the bravery and compassion to speak against these atrocities. Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.
Prior to Oct. 7, Gaza has been under a violent blockade for 16 years under Israeli occupation. Gazans can’t leave the Gaza Strip. Ninety-six percent of the water is undrinkable. Electricity is only available sporadically. Hospitals are consistently out of 40% of the medical supplies necessary to treat patients.
Since Oct. 7, about two million Gazans have been displaced. The total number of Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip is 21,124, including 8,697 children and 4,410 women as well as those missing and trapped under the rubble. The number of injured people is 56,122. More than half of Gazans are at risk of starvation and disease.
On a never-before-seen scale, Israel’s extensive bombing campaign has targeted both displaced civilians, residential infrastructures, hospitals, refugee camps, UN-run schools, mosques, churches, bakeries, water tanks and ambulances. Amputations are being done on children without anesthesia.
Over 101 journalists, 300 health care workers and 135 United Nations workers have been killed (the highest in the history of the UN). These deaths weren’t a result of combat.
Several Human Rights organizations are calling for a ceasefire. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations and B’Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights) are calling these war crimes.
With American tax dollars, Israel has dropped the equivalent of two nuclear bombs on Gaza, where half the population are children. Let that sink in. America is complicit. These are American bombs, artillery, helicopters, planes. Where is precision bombing for one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world? Some of the accounts of freed Israeli hostages said they feared the Israeli bombing more than Hamas. This was documented in Israeli newspapers. The Israeli hostages who were killed by the Israeli army were waving white flags.
This is not representative of what most Americans want. This brutal war is harming our legitimacy as a first-world power. As an American citizen, I feel shame knowing that our government is supporting this through billions of dollars of aid to Israel. President Joe Biden bypassed our Congress to provide aid to Israel’s military. Europe and Arab countries could put tremendous pressure on Israel through sanctions, pressuring them to allow for humanitarian aid.
If we can’t solve this political crisis, the least we can do is save lives. Humanity is our common cause. Collectively, we have the freedom to uphold and safeguard people’s humanity. Challenge your local and state leaders by calling for a ceasefire, frequently. There are several resources and websites that can help you get started: OXFAM, Jewish Voice for Peace and many others.
Lisa Saia of Hyde Park is a marketing, advertising and non-profit professional who has traveled to Jordan, West Bank and Jerusalem.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Everyone should condemn atrocities in Gaza; call for a ceasefire
