It is a basic ethical principle that two wrongs don’t make a right.
It was very wrong of Hamas to invade Israel on October 7 killing over 1,400 people in cold blood and taking 220 hostages. The actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank or the harsh blockade of Gaza can be no excuse for these Hamas attacks.
Similarly, Israel’s retribution in Gaza has now gone too far. Around 7,000 people have been killed and 1.4 million displaced by Israel’s mass bombing.
The tragedy is that Hamas wanted to provoke a war with Israel and is now getting what it wanted. There can be no winner in this conflict. Israel will find it impossible to permanently destroy Hamas although it can weaken it. For its part, Hamas cannot eradicate Israel, a powerful military state whose right to exist is recognised internationally, even if wants to.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and angered Israel. In reality, this is the only way forward. Israel has already demonstrated that future Hamas attacks will lead to colossal suffering in Gaza. Isn‘t that enough?
Quote of the day: “I have devoted my existence to provide them a better life.”
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
The Iranian leader crowned himself Emperor of Iran on October 26, 1967