Netanyahu has once again seized the opportunity to carry out his brutal attacks on the displaced and defenceless Palestinians under the skies of the city of Rafah (the last security zone), which has been transformed into a closed military zone and the scene of Israeli military operations. The disastrous and painful situation in which the Palestinians find themselves in this new devastated city shows us their tragic and disastrous long-term fate.
What can we say to the displaced Palestinians, crammed into Rafah, who remain alive, waiting to be frightened away by the planned Israeli ground offensive on the distressed city? What can we say about the extreme and enduring suffering of their loved ones trapped under indiscriminate bombardment, fear, hunger, cold, lack of food, water and shelter?
Words fail us and we are ashamed. The civilian population has suffered enough from this indescribable, confusing and painful horror.
The West is responsible for and a partner in this unspeakable historical crime by supplying arms to Israel, supporting its bloody war leadership and rejecting any ceasefire, unlike other Western countries that have adopted moderate and humanitarian positions.
Unfortunately, such biased positions, to the detriment of the historical suffering of the Palestinian people, are commonplace in the West, which is more concerned with the aspirations of successive Israeli governments. We are reminded in this context of the eminent Algerian thinker Malek Bennabi’s description of the Western world as “the West does not carry its values beyond its borders”. Indeed, this West is incapable of defending its values, with the exception of a few free voices that support the Palestinian cause and show great commitment and humanity. Some Western countries must stop practising hypocrisy and doublespeak towards the Palestinians (the wretched of the earth), because such behaviour is unacceptable and increases their suffering.
History has taught us that one day the Palestinian humanitarian tragedy will end like any other war, despite the unprecedented scale of the death and destruction, but what gives cause for concern are the post-war repercussions and challenges that the Palestinians will face, in a situation of great suffering and intense pressure, on the direct lives of the Palestinians, as well as on their mental and physical health.
The loaf of bread will be available, as will shelter and water, but the harsh reality is that the civilian population will carry with them a painful past marked by a wounded history, enormous misery and grief, and will always be exposed to serious risks and threats. The war will end, but they remain panicked by a vicious enemy that targets them daily with lethal weapons and besieges them with fences, barbed wire and surveillance cameras. The historic enemy will tighten its grip on the population even more aggressively. There is therefore an urgent need to give strong support to those who are still alive, to rebuild their economy and infrastructure, which have suffered unprecedented damage, and to wipe away their tears. We must also thank the Arab countries and free nations that are playing a major role in helping the Palestinians through their terrible ordeal.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Ben Rhouma Chedly)
