The Naked Truth/Jamala Rogers
Why Israel Can Expand its Military Aggression
Israeli-Palestinian tensions reached a new level on October 7, 2023. Since then, hostages have allegedly been taken on both sides, but the death toll and destruction is far from balanced. Israel is now involved in military actions on three fronts — Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen. The threat of Israeli military engagement with Iran, Turkey and Syria is real. How can Israel, the approximate size of New Jersey, be mighty enough to sustain this level of armed aggression for years? The international calls for a ceasefire are not enough.
Most sources agree that the casualties in the Israeli-Gaza war since October 7 are dramatically lopsided. Most of Israel’s 2,000 casualties happened on the day of the Hamas attack. In spite of a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire, the unrelenting airstrikes on Gaza have resulted in more than 42,000 Palestinian deaths and nearly 100,000 injured. The majority of Palestinians have been displaced and an ongoing blockade has created a humanitarian crisis. Israeli forces have bulldozed 80 percent of Palestinian agricultural lands. Palestine has been reduced to rubble in an attempt to erase its political, cultural and social presence. These factors and more are why Israel is being condemned for genocide.
Israel’s recent strike on Beirut represented a significant military escalation for the first time in two decades. The mission was to take out Hezbollah leaders like Hassan Nasrallah. The attack also killed three key leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Over 1,000 people were killed and as is the case of most military conflicts, humanitarian catastrophes kicked in. Israel attacked the Iranian-backed Houthis, freedom fighters in Yemen, who are in solidarity with Palestine’s demand for self-determination.
The expanding military strategy of Israel is proof that the Zionist-agenda is impervious to the complex realities of the Middle East. Its military aggression has been a “shock and awe” tactic that has produced more enemies for Israel and no peaceful solution. The determination of Muslim countries in the region to fight against Israeli domination individually and collectively only dooms the Israeli to perpetual war. This is causing increasing division among Jewish people — both inside and outside the country — who are weary of the uncompromising conflicts that put them in the crosshairs.
Israel is like a little bully who calls on its big, bullying brother to intervene when it gets in a situation over its head. That big brother is the United States. The US continues to prop up the bullying with verbal support and real weapons of mass destruction. The international community may not be able to convince Israel of a ceasefire but those of us in the US have an obligation and a realistic pathway to stop the billions of dollars going to Israel. It is the US’ unwavering support of Israel that has it beating its chest in the Middle East.
The fact that this conflict is the machinations of men, and that women and children suffer the most, should not be lost on anyone with a conscience. Every military escalation by Israel should be met with the same energy to neutralize its unbridled power. The US government should be leading the charge, but it won’t do so without the pressure of the American people behind it. The October 7 anniversary and the US presidential election are opportunities to reframe the demands. If the ultimate goals are peace and sovereign respect, new thinking is mandatory to re-imagine how we get there.