Finally, on August 26, after 50 days of “war,” the two sides have agreed to a permanent ceasefire. The hapless population residing in the Gaza Strip would be able to live without the deafening roars of Israeli missiles or the bombs. Have the gates of hell finally closed for them?
After more than seven weeks of deadly and destructive aerial bombing and ground operations targeted towards the Gaza Strip that left Palestinians further immiserated, the State of Israel was forced to agree to a ceasefire. An agreement between Hamas and the Israeli government was ultimately brokered by the Egyptians. This ended the “Gaza War,” which in reality is only another gruesome attack by the Israeli armed forces against the Palestinian people.
These attacks clearly manifest that the State of Israel, backed by the United States and other Western powers, is the regional aggressor whose current actions have claimed the lives of 2,138 Palestinians, left 10,300 wounded, and completely blighted Gaza.
However, it is difficult to understand the Palestinian celebrations on the streets in spite of the losses and amidst the ruins of destruction. No, a deeper probe into the issue reveals that even under these gruesome military attacks, Palestinians have heroically resisted and have gained partial victory. Israel today stands exposed as never before.
Israel may still have the audacity to continue its criminal policy of coercive ethnic cleansing, but around the world it is getting isolated, increasingly. The UN Human Rights Council, in its resolution of July 23, decided to set up a commission to launch an international and independent inquiry which will investigate “all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Gaza Strip in the context of military operations conducted since mid-June.”
Israel couldn’t not expect such a straight slap in its face. The Geneva-based 47-member council condemned the “widespread, systematic, and gross violations of international human rights and freedoms arising from the Israeli military aggression in Gaza” in the strongest terms. None of the members except the US dared to vote against the resolution. 29 nations including India, Russia, Mexico, and Kenya, with whom Israel has close diplomatic ties, couldn’t oppose the resolution, but voted for it.
Israel’s wishes to receive an endorsement by the European members of the council received a jolt when eight European members including UK, Germany, and Italy decided to abstain. Even, the BJP-led, right-wing Indian government seeking even closer ties with another terrorist state (Israel) in its “fight against terror” had earlier refused a resolution in the Indian parliament condemning Israeli atrocities. However, it was compelled to vote for the council resolution. Israel stands even more isolated today.
Global protests
The attacks by Israel sparked a global backlash. Despite media attempts, the genocide was hardly concealable. Large protests and opposition to this brazen aggression erupted all across the world. Even Israel’s allies were forced to express their displeasure with the situation, pressurised by reactions back home.
July 21-27 witnessed millions on the streets around the planet protesting the Israeli aggression and demanding an end to the war in Gaza. At home, over 5,000 members of Israeli civil society and part of the anti-war movement took to the streets in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the occupation and the siege of Gaza.
Many Latin American countries condemned the Israeli invasion, and some even recalled their ambassadors as a mark of protest. Denmark, Finland, and Norway backed the Palestinians with substantial medical aid. The Turkish prime minister is known to have stated this “surpassed Hitler in barbarism.” There were protests from many other countries including resolutions of condemnations adopted at the national parliaments or senates.
Intellectuals, famous artists, human rights activists reacted like never before, outraged and opposing this destruction. Due to this, Israel could not gain any political mileage while, despite all the deaths and destruction caused, and some punches in its military apparatus, Hamas eventually strengthened its political prestige.
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel gained popularity around the world, especially in Europe. This campaign, started by a wide range of Palestinian organisations in 2005 taking inspiration from the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the BDS movement is today a widespread international effort.
The balance sheet
To sum up, the result of this action was a political and military defeat for Israel. It is not only critics of Israel who say this. Even the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz acknowledges this. Using footballing analogies, it sums up the balance sheet of the 50-day invasion with the headline “Hamas 1, Israel 0.” Another analyst, Ari Shavit states that the “secret weapon of Hamas” was being successful in undermining the foundations of the support for Israel in the five continents. It is no coincidence that the crisis is already incubating the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu and is now deepening, reports Haaretz. The Palestinians have every reason to celebrate.
