Monday, June 10: Barbarity Over Diplomacy
Violence disguised as humanitarian aid, every day presents a new low
The war crimes of the apartheid state are unfolding thick and fast these days. If you blink or get distracted you might just miss one.
Over the weekend, the apartheid state conducted a covert war crime, taking twisted inspiration from the infamous Trojan Horse in order to rescue 4 hostages. The so-called “most moral army in the world” murdered over 270 Palestinians in the process, along with injuring several hundred others. An attack like this only serves to place actual humanitarian aid workers in even more danger as the reports indicate that the US-backed massacre used aid trucks to disguise the brutal operation.
For all the talk of Israel’s alleged military prowess, their endless assault on Gaza has resulted in a net loss of at least 2 hostages by my math. In this latest incident, four hostages were indeed rescued, reportedly at the expense of three other hostages, including a US citizen. Add that to the three Israeli hostages previously murdered by their own army months ago while waving a white flag and you arrive at approximately -2 hostages saved. You also arrive at the conclusion that none of this cruel violence was ever truly about saving hostages.
For the record, the largest hostage recovery ‘mission’ so far was during the “temporary truce” late last year when Hamas released 10 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. That process involved no bloodshed, only the willingness to engage in diplomacy. The ceasefire proposals that have been floated for months and accepted by Hamas would free the remaining hostages, but would also require an end to the carnage and potentially an exchange of prisoners. Again, bear in mind the important detail that none of this was ever about saving hostages
This latest operation killed hundreds of Palestinians and used troops disguised as humanitarian aid workers. Yet another massacre that will be added to the long list of massacres, all to rescue 4 people who could have been saved without any of this. You can’t really accuse Hamas of using human shields when the apartheid state has made abundantly clear that they will kill absolutely any number of civilians without hesitation, remorse, or rationale.
Lost in the conversation about the apartheid state and the so-called “moral army” is the fact that Israeli military has been torturing Palestinians by impaling them with hot metal rods in their rectums and tying them to electric chairs. This gruesome information was buried at the end of a single New York Times article where these critical details are unmentioned in either the headline or subheadline. The imaginary reports of mass rape by Hamas and beheaded Israeli babies can warrant front-page coverage for months, but the glaring reality of rape being used as a weapon of war by Israel somehow gets relegated to the final paragraphs of one (1) news article.
The American political response through all this continues to be far from silent, it’s only ever been actively complicit, going so far as to sanction the international criminal court after it sought arrest warrants for the leaders of the apartheid state. The bill, which easily passed in the house of representatives, would apply major economic sanctions and visa restrictions to individuals and judges associated with the ICC, including their family members. I’m sure this kind of decision will be favorably viewed in the future. Definitely not a worrying sign of things to come.
Side Items
North vs. South: The Korea’s are at it again, exchanging disrespect in varying forms. For the northerners, over a thousand balloons filled with trash and animal excrement have been floated across the border and into the territory of their southern neighbors. South Korea has responded by broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda through loudspeakers in several border areas. I’m of the rare opinion that this sort of behavior is actually a much better option than simply going to war. We should treat any neighboring nation that we disagree with in the same way a petty Karen might react to her annoying neighbors. Litter on their lawn, play your music too loud, treat this world like one big homeowners association instead of the miserable collection of violence and barbarity that we’re currently witnessing
Euro & Copa America: The next two weeks kick off two of the biggest international football (soccer) tournaments in existence, as the European championships begin this Friday and the Copa America tournament gets underway the following Thursday. World Cup winners Argentina played a warmup fixture in Chicago yesterday against Ecuador, and I counted approximately 4,000 people wearing Messi jerseys. No matter who you support, one thing is guaranteed, obnoxious fans of the English team will claim “it’s coming home”, and they’ll almost certainly be incorrect once again
Love you, thank you for the reminder at the end. Hope you're also looking after yourself!