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Why the Gaza crisis is so shocking
Written by: Alex Klaushofer
The bare elements of the Middle East's latest crisis should say it all. Over 600 people killed and thousands more injured in 11 days, hospitals overflowing with bloodied civilians, and 1.5 million people, under fire from air and ground, trapped on a narrow strip of land without adequate water, food or electricity. But somehow the facts and figures fail to convey the horror that Gaza is inspiring in both seasoned observers of the region and the public. It's not just me that's feeling shocked. A disabled friend struggles on her crutches to join a London protest about the attacks; a relative not given to campaigning rings for advice. She's already been on a demonstration and written to the Prime Minister. What should she do now? The Middle East has long been erupting in sudden, cyclical bouts of violence. So what is it about the crisis in Gaza that is so deeply shocking? Partly, it's due to the tone of the media coverage, different from much reporting of other conflicts. The ban by the Israelis on international journalists entering Gaza has had the unexpected effect of bringing Palestinian voices, rather than western commentators, to the fore. Instead of parachuting a star war journalist into the war zone as they often do in high profile conflicts, media organisations are having to rely on Gazan residents to be their eyes and ears on the ground. So local businessman Sami Abdel-Shafi has been reporting regularly for Britain's Channel 4 TV news and the Guardian newspaper, while Gaza-based BBC producer Rashdi Abu Alouf has been doing live pieces to camera from al Shafa hospital, which has been receiving many of the casualties. Sometimes these newly-conscripted reporters appear visibly exhausted, or patently unused to broadcasting. At times their personal suffering enters the story, as in the case of one cameraman whose younger brother was killed while playing on a roof, and who then went on to film the aftermath for transmission. The resulting media coverage has an unmediated quality which brings the story closer to home. It's crisis reporting with less "professional" detachment and more humanising force. The Gaza shock factor also has to do with the way the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the conflict has become a weapon of war and a tool of diplomacy. Aid agencies and diplomats cite the growing plight of the population - which comes on top of a humanitarian crisis created by the eighteen-month-long blockade on supplies into Gaza - as driving the imperative for an urgent ceasefire. There's an uncomfortable dissonance created by the fact that Israelis have denied that there is a humanitarian crisis and point to instances where they are allowing convoys of supplies through Gaza's borders, while the International Committee of the Red Cross declares there is a "full blown humanitarian crisis". The recent decision by the Israelis to halt military operations for three hours a day to create a humanitarian corridor - in response to international pressure - shows how central humanitarianism is to the politics of this war. Civilians, already caught up in the physical violence, are being dragged into the war of words too. A three-way row about whether civilians are being deliberately targeted and the numbers killed has been going on between the Israelis, Hamas and aid workers. Even the worst incident to date, in which 42 people sheltering from the fighting in a United Nations school in Jabaliya refugee camp were killed by Israeli fire, has served to inflame the debate about how much killing of non-combatants is "necessary", with the Israelis claiming that Hamas were firing mortar from the school as part of their policy of using civilians as human shields. But perhaps the worst thing about the Gaza crisis is the way it makes it impossible to avoid recognising that it is - however you see the rights and wrongs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - entirely man-made. And seeing the suffering unfold night after night on our TV screens, we're brought up sharply up against the fact that ordinary people can do little or nothing to end the bloodshed. It was frustration at this kind of impotence that must have prompted the Norwegian volunteer doctor working alongside Palestinian medics in al-Shafa hospital to send this dramatic text to friends back home. "We are wading in death, blood, and amputees. Many children. A pregnant woman," wrote Mads Gilbert. "I have never experienced anything so terrible. Now we hear tanks. Pass it on, send it around, shout it out. Anything. DO SOMETHING! DO MORE! We are living in a history book now, all of us." The feeling of helplessness is hardly alleviated by the fact that those with the power to influence events - the politicians and others who make up the "international community" - have so far failed to make a concerted attempt to end the crisis. While it's important to acknowledge that, in its own terms, the political world is making attempts to broker a solution, on a human level it's hard to avoid the thought that the problem stems from a lack of will to intervene rather than a lack of ability. It's a conclusion confirmed by commentators' analysis of the logic of the crisis, according to which the military action will inevitably continue until enough international pressure builds to bring about a diplomatic solution. Or, to put it more plainly, powerful people get sufficiently embarrassed by the death tolls to stop the killing. So what we're left with is a scenario in which ordinary people are obliged to stand by and watch people in power effectively stand by and watch other people inflict gratuitous suffering on their fellow human beings - a great recipe for a kind of "bystander's guilt". For anyone with a humanitarian impulse, the beginning of 2009 has already brought some uncomfortable times.
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15 responses to “Why the Gaza crisis is so shocking”
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Alex Klaushofer is a freelance journalist writing on social affairs and politics in Britain and the Middle East. She has previously worked as Middle East communications manager for Christian Aid, and has a particular interest in humanitarian issues. She is author of "Paradise Divided: A Portrait of Lebanon".
07 Jan 2009 16:52:08 GMT
It sickens me and everyone I know that the media is only willing to show Palestinians in their utmost time of terror. If Hamas were to stop the relentless shelling of civilian areas of Israel and stop using it's own people as defense objects, this bloody conflict would never have happened. It's like the bully living next door always throwing stones. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
07 Jan 2009 16:52:53 GMT
"By stander's guilt" in this continued crusome killings of over hunreads of inocent civilians every day in this long ethnic conflict is not the only neglected ethnic cleansing in the world today. Almost as this is happening in Gaza in another part of the world in northern Srilanka Civilians and young fighters are getting killed daily. Thousands of inocent civilians are collectivly displaced punished from reciving medical and food help because they are born to live in Gaza and in northern part of Srilaka likewise. So called International society is waiting for a Situation to open their views and help any remaing citizens if left alive at the finish of this ethnic cleansing war.
08 Jan 2009 02:31:45 GMT
Hamas is wrong, but so is Israel. Oppression and subhuman treatment will never bring peace to such a volatile area. Also, the continued occupation and expansion of Israeli homes on Arab land, more than the one designated in 1948 need to cease as well as return of occupied territory. Ultimately, Palestine will not stop till they are granted statehood, and Israel will never allow that because then the refugees in Lebanon and other areas that were chased out of their homes would return, thus surpassing Israel's population. There are tens of thousands awaiting with their British Crown deeds to their homes that were promised 'Right of Return'. The media has also been very unfair and bias in reporting the conflict, now and before. They liberally label terrorist, insurgents and militants. Lets remember that Palestinians are indigenous people in their land. Peace is needed but so is fairness.
08 Jan 2009 02:33:57 GMT
On a major TV news station in Montreal, Canada yesterday was a film clip interviewing the father of a young Israeli girl whose bedroom had suffered some damage from a nearby rocket. She was thankfully, unhurt. It was a long interview by prime time standards with the father pointing out that if his daughter had been standing here or here, the outcome could have been much worse. This news feature did not mention any near misses or worse of Palestinian children. In my opinion, the reporting came across as imbalanced and blatantly unfair in relation to the children of Gaza.
I do not agree with collective punishment, nor blockades that impoverish and jeopardize the many to hurt the few, nor the idea that one person of this nation is worth 10 or 100 of those of another nation. The stones that young boys once threw at tanks are now rockets. Trans-generational trauma and unresolved anger? It is a terrible, outrageous tragedy from all angles in which it is being experienced and the day by day continuance of this invasion is utterly appalling. "For every combatant killed in modern wars, a civilian will be killed directly and 8 more will die from loss of food, clean water, shelter, social support and health care. Half of the dead will be children." Graeme McQueen, The Lancet May 2001. Awful as this may sound, at least Israeli's living within rocket distance have shelters to run to. There are no safe havens in Gaza because Hamas militants are allegedly everywhere and somehow this makes 'collateral damage' justified.08 Jan 2009 02:46:13 GMT
I cannot believe the amount of American's that still are so brain-washed about Israel.
There is no mention in the American press of the 18 months of seige. Gaza was in terrible shape before the new Israeli bombing. NO Medicine and Medicaal supplies, food, water, gas and very little electricty. Everything is controlled by Israel. This has been a concentration camp. No way in or out, with an Israeli policy of starve them out, plus assasinations and deprevation (thus the 10 mile range rockects were fired. the Palestinian's only way of protesting). Our news media only talks about the rockets, which had caused very little damage before this new bombing, and provides massive media coverage for the contining lie that is Israel. I was an Israeli supporter all my life, until 26 years ago, when I was forced to start to investigate and think. It was very hard for me to finally realize what was going on and what my government was doing. We finance and give cover to Israel's aggression. There constant illegal confiscation of land and water, and their illegal settlement's has shown for years that the map the hung on the wall of the Knesset which shows all of Israel ( which means all of the land and more) is exactly what they mean to have. American's have been made to pay terribly for our government's actions. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but when there is very little news being allowed into the country, and one only hears about wonderful Israel, it should give a thinking person pause for thought. There is a reason that we have been the only supporter of Israel all these years. The whole rest of the world can't always be wrong. This last administration and it's Iraq war should have sent up some red flags.08 Jan 2009 02:48:03 GMT
What would be the U.S. response to Mexico launching rockets into California?
08 Jan 2009 02:48:36 GMT
The last comment at the end of this article reads "We welcome argument but AlertNet will not publish comments that are racist, abusive or libelous." The article itself is anti-Semitic. Where was the concern when Hamas started lobbing bombs or sending suicide bombers into Israel prior? Where was the press then? ...Wake up and Get real! Hamas hides like cowards among their population and behind the children. The egression started with them and Israel has the right to defend itself.
08 Jan 2009 02:57:42 GMT
Folks, stop the bitching about the media coverage and come up with solutions. Then push those solutions to become real and help these people. I believe they both have reasons to fight but if all they have is hate and war - people will die.
A blogger here suggested a motive for Israel to treat the Palestinians the way they do that is disgusting if true. Hamas on the other hand is disgusting in how it treats its own people. I also do not believe starting a war you cannot win out of desperation is smart. Why didn't they build shelters to protect them before lobbing rockets into Israel? Anyway - come on now - stop the bias bull crap and post solutions. Please.09 Jan 2009 13:36:30 GMT
Keep in mind that Israel once encouraged Hamas, as a rival to PLO. The solution needs to start with recognition of a unilateral view and that starts with the media. Sadly, most people specially Americans see main stream media as the word of God. For us to find a solution we must first see the suffering not just from one side, or see only one victim. As one said, many are brainwashed as to what the Israeli state has become and their policy towards Palestine. After all, they are the same people, they are all Philistines, so to call Palestinian anti-semites only shows the ignorance of the readers, globally. Also aske yourself or research why they are firing missiles? why are they so desperate? nd not Hamas but Palestinians. Read, read , read before you make comments. Empathize. What would you do? what would you do if you lived under oppression, if your mother, sister, brother was killed, chased out of their home, not allowed to lve or move freely... dehumanized! One man's terrorist is anothers freedom fighter.
09 Jan 2009 13:38:27 GMT
The last sentence in my above post was sarcasm hence may not have been clearly understood. If so, I apologize. My clarification:
There are no safe havens in Gaza. Hamas militants are perceived by the IDF to be everywhere in Gaza. The civilian deaths and casualties [euphamistically termed 'collateral damage' and a reminder of the rhetoric of the invasion of Iraq] resulting from this hunt are then somehow perceived as justified. I think not. What is paramount in the present moment is a ceasefire for an effective humanitarian response to take place. I feel helpless to stop the carnage yet hope my one voice joined with many other global voices protesting will bring this about.09 Jan 2009 13:41:12 GMT
Socialism - that's the solution - take capitalism and religion out of the equation and both sides adopt socialism, and peace will prevail. And that is the same for any conflict anywhere in the world.....Remember, whilst the masses kill eachother, the few reap the profits of war. As Marx wrote, 'wars are conflicts of markets and not of people', and 'religion is the opium of the masses'. Whilst this is the solution I offer, we all cannot hide from our collective responsibility to acknowledge the horror that bthe Israeli war machine has unleashed on the Gazan people. Will Israel adhere to the UN council resolution to ceasfire now? - If past similar resolutions are any indicator, clearly not. Therefore, without condoning the death and destructive dogma of Hammas. all nations must take a leaf out of the Venezulan president Chavez's lead, and 'kick out'Israeli diplomats, whilst working to isolate Israel for crimes against civilians, as h! ighlighted by the Red Cross et al.
09 Jan 2009 13:47:13 GMT
Even with all this death the hate filled Hamas continues to bring suffering to it's own people. They vow to keep firing into a civilian population which brought this suffering in the first place. I guess they hate Isreal more than they love their own people. How can they ask us to feel for them when Hamas has has used them as a shield and could care less about them. What fools vote in a party of death and destruction. Do they love their own children even a little?
09 Jan 2009 13:48:27 GMT
The behavior of Israel and the IDF is totally disgracefull imo. This action wont stop one rocket being fired into Israel after the IDF troops withdraw.(rockets are still coming in from Gaza now) no the sad thing is, this is revenge by the Israel's nothing else. Israel knows they wont achieve anything except the deaths of many innocent men women and children,they just want their pound of flesh.
david wigan england.09 Jan 2009 14:14:47 GMT
I AM AN AMERICAN OF DUTCH DECENT---NOT JEWISH OR ARAB. BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS YOU SEE IT; THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE RETALLIATION BUT THE INSTIGATION OF REPEATED CRISIS BY TERRORISTS WHO ARE SPONSORED BY COUNTRIES WHO DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO CONFRONT THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY SAY EXIST FORTHRIGHTLY. THEY WILL NEITHER NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT OR DO BATTLE FOR "JUSTICE" (AS THEY MAY SEE IT) THEY ARE COWARDS. THEY ARE WILLING TO PRECIPITATE CRISIS THAT RESULTS IN PALISTINIAN CASUALTIES AND SUFFERING BUT AVOIDS ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THEMSELVES. THE BLOOD OF THE PALISTINIANS IS ON THEIR HANDS. EVENTUALLY, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE CONFRONTED AND NOW IS AS GOOD A TIME AS EVER. NEGOTIATE THE END TO SPONSORED TERRORISM IF POSSIBLE BUT STOP THE TERRORISM OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES WHICH WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY PAINFUL FOR ALL CONCERNED. THE FAILURE OF THE WORLDS POWERS TO MANDATE CESSATION OF SPONSORED TERRORISM AND BACK UP THOSE DEMANDS WITH THE USE O! F FORCE IF NECESSARY WILL PREDICTABLY LEAD TO A CONFLICT WHICH WILL ENCOMPASS MUCH OF THE WORLD AND WITH NO LIMITATION AS TO THE TYPES OF WEAPONS USED----WHATEVER WORKS TO THE ADVATNTAGE OF ONE GROUP OF CONTESTANTS OVER THE OPPOSITION----MUCH IN THE SAME WAY AS TERRORISTS ARE USED TODAY. HIGHLIGHTING AND OPPOSING RETALIATION IN CONTRAST TO IRRADICTING THE PRECIPITATING PROBLEM IS A PREDICTABLY LOOSING STRATEGY FOR, IN THE LONG RUN IT WILL ELIMINATE NEITHER AND HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS EXPEDIANT FOR THOSE HOPING TO AVOID INVOLVEMENT IN THE IMMEDIATED FORAY----AND, AS THYE SEE IT, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY "FOR THE TIME BEING".
11 Jan 2009 17:15:53 GMT
many people do not have enough knowledge on the crisis in Gaza and they literally write anything which has absolutely no credibility. The massacre of the Palestinians has been going on way before Hamas came into existence. So people must realise the facts and stop taking the bias points from the Western news coverage. It is very difficult to distinguish the truth when the press is telling you what to think, but people take a step back and look at the facts. Just to leave you with one key fact; Israel broke every single law when entering Gaza. Does Israel care about any of this?