Operation Cast Lead

Though I don’t usually discuss current events here, I would like to take another day to discuss and reflect on the violence in the Gaza Strip, which has been going on all day yesterday and today. As of the time of this writing, almost 350 Palestinians have been killed, and Israel has just declared war on Hamas. In Israel, the bombings are code-named Operation Cast Lead, after a popular Hanukkah song, which refers to a lead dreidel. But I am not here simply to report the news—I would like to discuss what has been going on in Gaza, not just over the past few days but over the past few years.

I would first like to dispel the American illusion that Israel is innocent, good, and clearly in the right. To do this, I would like to briefly explain the recent history of Gaza. In 2005, the unilateral disengagement plan gave Israel control over Gaza’s airspace, utilities, and navy, which caused Amnesty International to classify them an “occupying power.” In 2006, Hamas won a legitimate election in the Gaza Strip, giving them control over the Palestinian Legislative Council. In response, the Israeli military surrounded Gaza and restricted trade in and out of the region. In turn, Palestinian militants bombed Israeli settlements in the region. In 2007, Gaza militants fought Fatah and managed to take over the entire Gaza Strip. Israel once again blockaded Gaza, only this time they severely restricted trade, cut utilities, and restricted medical and fuel supplies. Unemployment skyrocketed to 70%, and human rights organizations worldwide were furious. Once again, Hamas militants responded with rocket attacks. In April, Hamas announced their goals for the near future, many of which infuriated Israelis. However, in June Egypt managed to negotiate a cease-fire; a week or so ago this treaty expired, and hostilities prevented it from being renewed; this caused the violence you see today. But I’ll cut the history lesson short—the point is, Israel is far from innocent (and I haven’t even gotten to the West Bank!).

I am not denouncing Israel, though—I am simply explaining the fact that no one is innocent in this situation. That said, how can we go forward from here?

Obviously a worldwide “scolding” of Israel and Hamas isn’t enough (although, interestingly, the both Egypt and the Palestinian National Authority blame Hamas for causing the violence); UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for an immediate cease-fire, and the EU and UNSC have called for similar actions to be taken (none of which have happened). Israel and Hamas are willingly at war with each other, knowing full well that the international community’s eyes are on them. How, then, can we prevent further violence if UN threats are not enough? The obvious answer is UN intervention. Even Hamas probably isn’t bold enough to openly badmouth the UN; if, once the current crisis has ended (assuming it doesn’t boil over into another intifada) the UN should intervene to negotiate a long-term peace treaty. If UN troops are housed in or around Gaza, it is unlikely that even Hamas will break such a treaty, at least immediately.

For now, though, all we can do is watch and wait. My sympathy is reserved for the families of those lost in this senseless violence, both Israeli and Palestinian.