The hypocritical silence over Israel’s atrocities
Setting out with the intention of providing the denied support and to break the siege that has turned Gaza into a desolate place devoid of development, Freedom Flotilla, an aid convoy comprising 700 peace campaigners from 40 countries including international observers, human right activists, international journalists, a nobel laureate, a member of the Israeli parliament, […]
Setting out with the intention of providing the denied support and to break the siege that has turned Gaza into a desolate place devoid of development, Freedom Flotilla, an aid convoy comprising 700 peace campaigners from 40 countries including international observers, human right activists, international journalists, a nobel laureate, a member of the Israeli parliament, embarked upon its humanitarian mission loaded with aid materials for the Gazans. Inspite of awareness created by the convoy for its mission, international recognition of the mission of the aids convoy and its clearance granted by NATO, an European military alliance, the convoy was violently attacked and its crew ruthlessly dealt with by Israeli forces, a confirmation of its numerous brutal acts against its defenceless neighbours.
According to eyewitness accounts, the Israeli forces started shooting at the leading ship in the convoy even before even boarding the ship to ascertain the identity of its crew, an evidence to neutralize claims by the Israel government that its forces were attacked by the ship crew. After committing the crime of shooting at civilians, the Israel forces continued with its arrogance and disregard for human values by physically assaulting the crew, handcuffing them and treating them in inhuman manners. During the vicious attack, nine members of the convoy lost their lives while many were severely wounded.
Though Israel’s aggressive, destructive attitude and actions are not a surprise to an enlightened observer of international events due to her past heinous crimes against her neighbours, but what prompted the writer of this article is the recurring and appalling silence of the United Nations and other influential western nations over Israel’s aggression. While the above mentioned organization and countries would react easily and strongly whenever there was a reprisal attack on Israel, their condescending attitude to injustice whenever Israel is at fault is often a source of worry. Immediately after the attack, the United States of America, the strongest ally of Israel, came out boldly to claim that Israel should not be blamed for its act of piracy. Rather, its action was prompted by past bhaviours of Hamas and other terrorists in the region. Have the police of the world, as the United States is called, forgotten that despite ascertaining the identities of the crew which had differentiated them from terrorists, Israel went ahead to treat them like prisoners. Isn’t this an act of piracy? While the United Nations and its big influences, the United States and other European allies of Israel looked the other way to prevent Israel from being punished for its attack of May 30, 2010, it was another ball game as Iran was not pardoned or given another grace moment, as the so-called world enforcer of laws and order was quick to approve another round of sanctions against Iran over its rightful production of nuclear fuel. If the UN Security Council, an apparatus of the United States, could quickly impose punitive sanctions against Iran for failing to comply with its forceful and hypocritical directives over its nuclear programmes, why did it take the council much deliberations and persuasions to curtail the aggressive and indiscriminate actions of the Israelis.
Okunnu Ganiu lives in Lagos and can be reached at [email protected]