Gaza: Siege and war of attrition

Benjamin Netanyahu capitalised on two recent events to launch full-scale war on Gaza.  Firstly, Netanyahu opposed the Palestinian unity government hence his desperation to kill it at its embryonic stage. Hamas has been commended for making painful compromises to agree to a unity government with Fatah. So enraged was Netanyahu that he shut down negotiations […]

Benjamin Netanyahu capitalised on two recent events to launch full-scale war on Gaza.  Firstly, Netanyahu opposed the Palestinian unity government hence his desperation to kill it at its embryonic stage. Hamas has been commended for making painful compromises to agree to a unity government with Fatah. So enraged was Netanyahu that he shut down negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas over the unity government.  Even the European Union/United States hailed the unity government.  
Secondly, the kidnapping of the three Israeli teenagers that were later killed was a great opportunity for Netanyahu to check whether Hamas has replenished or developed new rockets. Though Hamas denied kidnapping them, Israel hurriedly arrested and hounded hundreds of its members into prison, mostly those recently released from the prisoner-swap deal. Several stone throwing Palestinians were also killed.  Netanyahu deliberately exacerbated tension so as to start the conflict.
Ariel Sharon ended Gaza’s occupation in 2005 but quickly imposed land, sea and air blockade. Gaza is internationally referred to as open-air prison of 1.7 million inmates. For seven years Israel refused to lift the siege citing security concerns.  Egypt also helped to perpetuate the siege of Gaza by blocking the Rafah crossing. Blockade is an act of war and therefore Gaza has the right to fight it as it is currently doing.
Contrary to the Geneva Convention, the siege of Gaza is a deliberate collective punishment. It has pauperised the strip.  Over 60 percent of Gazans go on food ration from the United Nations. The strip can neither export its produce nor can its citizens travel without hindrance.  Israel naval blockade has underdeveloped the fishing industry.  Palestinian airport was destroyed by Israel. The power plant in Gaza runs at 45 percent capacity because of the limited fuel allowed by Israel. Gaza hospitals are in critical shortage of drugs/disposables and the critically ill cannot travel out.  Gazans are forced to smuggle drugs and their basic needs through tunnels from Egypt.
Then came the July 8th war which Israel code-named operation “protective Edge.”  Though Israel claimed its mission was to destroy rocket site and tunnels, the targets as expected were schools, UN buildings, public buildings, hospitals and residential areas.  The world’s “terrorist state” as declared by Bolivia killed 2020 Palestinians (over 500 were children), combatants (215) and non-combatants. Over 20,000 Palestinians were wounded.  64 Israeli soldiers and 3 civilians were killed.
According to the UN: “Bombs have pounded 133 schools and 22 health centres, stadiums, playgrounds, mosques, roads, power and water supplies, phone towers, communication centres and government buildings.” Over 100,000 people have lost their homes, over 20, 000 houses have been destroyed and 230 schools damaged. Gaza power plant, main water supply and wastewater infrastructure were all knocked out.  Even the “Islamist” animals in Gaza zoo were bombed and killed.  Palestinian officials claimed Gaza reconstruction might cost 7 to 8 billion dollars.   
Within the last six years, Israel waged three wars on Gaza. In 2008 and 2012, Israel launched operations “cast lead” and “Pillar of Defence” to destroy Hamas and other groups in Gaza.  In the two wars 1,467 Palestinians and 16 Israelis lost their lives.  As Israel and Hamas inched towards a truce it may not be preposterous to ask when is the next Israel-Gaza war?
The US is an accomplice to Israel’s aggression against Palestinians. It has given Israel economic, political, military and diplomatic support. Some call it blind support! It supplied Israel with F16 and missiles used against Gaza. The US also financed and helped Israel build its Iron Dome defence system, which protects it from Palestinian rockets. In the current conflict the US gave $225 million to Israel in order to replenish its munitions. US traditional annual aid to Israel is $3 billion. The US considers the mass killings of Palestinians by Israel as necessary in order to defend itself.
Israel is fighting a war of attrition against Palestinians to protect and consolidate its colonial gains. They have created a settler colony using biblical injunctions to steal Palestinian land.  In Africa we fought their Caucasian cousins who stole our land in South Africa and Zimbabwe. They christened their colonial project in Africa as the “Whiteman’s burden.”
The narrative that Israel is the victim and has the right to defend itself is misleading. Israel is the aggressor; a colonial power stealing land from indigenous Palestinians and it is those stripped of their land fighting to regain it. This is the core reason of the perennial conflict. Twenty-eight years of the so- called peace process have led to no peace or Palestinian state.  There will never be peace until there is a Palestinian homeland.
The international condemnation of Israel’s reckless bombing, brutality, killings and destruction was unprecedented. Israel’s violent colonial project must be resisted. The boycott/sanction campaign must hit the streets, factories, seaports, sports etc. to isolate apartheid Israel. The message is clear: Zionist arrogance and impunity will not go unchallenged. Far from Israel’s propaganda, the world must support Hamas; it is a national liberation movement with no pony dreams of an Islamic Caliphate.
I would want to conclude with the sad story of Mr. Nabil Siyyam, a non-combatant Palestinian. It was reported that Mr. Nabil lost his wife and four children along with his left arm in the on-going bombings of Gaza. He said: “I saw my daughter cut into two.” Such is life in Gaza, Israel’s killing field!
Sabo is a staff of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria [email protected]