Robert Reich: Children in Gaza: Why aren't we stopping the deaths?

[Nanjeanne]

https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/children-in-gaza-why-arent-we-stopping?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email]

Read full piece above.

Late last night, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen gave a remarkable speech on the Senate floor, condemning the government of Benjamin Netanyahu for deliberately blocking aid to civilians in Gaza. Van Hollen said:

“Kids in Gaza are now dying from the deliberate withholding of food. In addition to the horror of that news, one other thing is true: That is a war crime. It is a textbook war crime. And that makes those who orchestrate it war criminals. … Every one of them [officials at humanitarian relief organizations] has stated that their organizations have never experienced a humanitarian disaster as dire and terrible as the world is witnessing in Gaza.”

Let’s be clear. To take a clear moral stand against Netanyahu is not to be pro-Hamas or anti-Israeli or anti-Zionist or antisemitic.

It’s to be pro-human rights.

SNIP

Tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands of children. Many more are starving. American tax payers’ money is partly responsible. Where is the moral clarity? Where is the moral authority? Why aren’t we doing everything possible to stop the deaths?

Why indeed.

[elleng]

1. 'Let's be clear.

To take a clear moral stand against Netanyahu is not to be pro-Hamas or anti-Israeli or anti-Zionist or antisemitic.

It’s to be pro-human rights.'

[Nanjeanne]

3. Something so simple but so many don't seem to be able to see it.

[elias7]

7. Right, except it's not so simple - it's not that some don't see it, it's that you don't see all that some see

Im guessing you haven’t lived with this situation for 60 years, haven’t had family flee the Pale for either the US or what would become Israel and then get accused of colonizing, where those of your family that did not leave in time were exterminated. Netanyahu is just not the issue. The rejection of a two state solution 5 times or more since 1937 is more to the point of how we got here.

[Nanjeanne]

11. I dont think you understand anything about me because I'm not the person you should be arguing with.

I still have family in Israel. They talk about fleeing the right wing government. Instead they work for peace with Palestinians with the AJEEC-NISPED.

No Netanyahu isn’t the only issue. There are many issues.

So sorry you had family have to flee Israel. Hope they are happier here.

My family chooses to stay and work towards peace.

[yagotme]

2. Why aren't "we" stopping the deaths?

Because "we" have little actual say there. I guess we could get our troops together, invade Gaza, attack Hamas, force them to surrender and lay down their arms, find and release the hostages, and destroy all the rockets and bomb making materials Hamas has stockpiled over the years, instead of taking care of their own people. I mean, since Israel isn't doing it right, "we" should take charge...

[elleng]

4. Bullies here, there, and everywhere.

[yagotme]

15. So, your solution for "us" to stop this is.....

Or, just throw accusations. Whatever.

[Basic LA]

5. Van Hollen could lead the charge...

To cease ALL funding. Not another cent. Not one more baby-killer bomb. Recognize the state of Palestine and work to impose an immediate two-state solution. Lead other nations in ceasefire demands. Etc etc. So much we and other nations can do to end this "over the top" civilian slaughter that we have sponsored and encouraged to the tune of 28,000 & rising deaths.

[Cartoonist]

6. To stop the deaths, you have to be called anti-Semitic

I was booted off a discussion group for posting something negative about Israel.

[Nanjeanne]

8. I've been called worse even here. Hamas supporter. Supporter of rape. All kinds of idiocy. And as a Jew

Last edited Tue Feb 13, 2024, 09:58 PM - Edit history (1)

who considers herself a peace activist, with family in Israel who are peace activists, as someone who knew one of the victims of Oct 7 and who’s family knows many of the people killed on that dreadful day - I won’t be silent about this humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

May not fit in well here since my views aren’t as loud as some- but I’m confident in my belief, knowledgeable about what I’ve seen in my more than ten visits to Israel, my understanding of its history, the truth about what it was like in Gaza and I hold my humanity as the central part of my being.

It just doesn’t pay to argue with the loudest. I remind myself to look at my signature line - and just carry on.

Edited because I just realized the signature line is gone. Oh well I do believe what Mark Twain said, “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience".

[Lonestarblue]

10. Thank you. I appreciate your voice.

[elias7]

9. To stop the deaths, Hamas just needs to become civilized - release the hostages, bombing stops

It’s only considered anti-Semetic because you’re only giving agency to one side.

[enid602]

12. Netanyahu

Netanyahu continues the slaughter because no one in Israel protests against him, unless his Government infringes on their constitutional rights. Gazans have no such rights.

I was so heartened ten days ago to learn young Israelis were protesting, but only to learn they were BLOCKING aid trucks. True, Israelis don’t care for Netanyahu, but they seem to support the results of his war.

[Richard D]

13. You do recall what happened on October 7, no?

Just to refresh, Hamas attacked Israel and raped, tortured, kidnapped, and murdered way over a thousand civilians.
It is not "Netanyahu's war"; it is, simply, Hamas's war. They started it. And they want it to continue. Read that again.
If Gaza really wanted the war to end, the hostages would have been released long ago. No, wrong, no hostages would have been abducted.
If Gaza really wanted the war to end, they would not have started it.
Israel has every right to do whatever it takes to recover their people.
Israel has every right to do whatever it takes to utterly and totally make sure the horrors Hamas and Gaza inflicted on Oct 7 can never again happen.
It is simple.

[Butterflylady]

16. Evidently, some here know very little

Of the history of the Middle East. Netanyahu, knows exactly what he is doing. He is committed to getting what he wants no matter how many he has to murder.

[Richard D]

17. Ah, I see . . .

. . . and what is that, in your opinion?

[TheKentuckian]

14. What other broad sentiment would one anticipate?

Netanyahu is an authoritarian asshole criminal on his better days so that is why he is problematic at best for the citizens.

In the same position, every plausible leader of any actual nation would go hammer and tongs to eliminate such a threat to their people as presented on 10/7 especially in light of constant smaller ones for decades so of course opposition to night following the day isn't going to the be the problem.

It is not a partisan or outlandish perspective to think a primary role any government is to protect its citizens.

I am confident that no people on Earth would be demanding they be exposed to ongoing attacks and that the culprits of the last be allowed to keep carrying on so that one day they too can be raped, mutilated, and/or massacred.

I am definitely, definitively, and absolutely sure this to be the case here in the United States of America as all but a sliver (some of which are not trying to pound the square pegs from situations past into the round holes in the present) have not a millimeter of space to say a damn thing.

A full 90% were all in on invading Iraq who didn't even attack us and were already under a fucking air cap like a year and half later so I haven't a clue where all this nonsense comes from when we are talking about how people respond to going after a real enemy right on the doorstep in real time.

I bet plenty that had been sympathetic to the Palestinians at this point want to have heard the last call to shelter and the patience has just been exhausted.
The genocidal bullshit by one means and/or the other has been going for generations and they are committed to keeping it up and are at it right now.

No shit folks are thinking it has got to stop.

That is perfectly rational and natural.

What else can reasonably be expected?
Of course the greater cause of people going into a rage at their government will be for failing to eliminate the threat rather than allowing it to continue.

There is no plausible alternative math when you get beyond about the village level and it would be quite rare even then.

I've seldom seen or imagined such off the meter hypocrisy, victim blaming, lionizing of murdering rapists mutilatiors, bogus self righteousness, blatant handwaiving, and vile racist hate mongering and harrassment or at least giving a pass (or was that a wink and a nod?)...for the children.