The same horror against Israeli victims would undoubtedly draw parallels with the worst memories of the 20th century.e century. An urban landscape which, all things considered, evokes Warsaw in 1945. Four out of five inhabitants driven from their homes because of the war and the purge (1.8 million out of 2.2 million according to the latest UN figures ), moved repeatedly like cattle. A majority of abandoned houses no longer exist.
Yes, a way of the cross, a real systematic purification from north to south, until all that is left is an unlivable retreat, to the south of the enclave, for an exhausted, hungry, decimated population.
A population that is served with euphemisms such as “we invite you to move to the well-known shelters for displaced people”. Press release from an Arabic-speaking Israeli spokesperson, this weekend on the not already.
And complacent, ignorant commentators… or even unconditional allies – including among us – emphasize the delicacy and humanity of these warnings.
According to the newspaper Israel HayomNetanyahu reportedly asked his advisor Ron Dermer for a plan to “reduce the population of Gaza to the lowest possible level”, and open the enclave’s maritime borders, to allow “a massive flight to European and African countries”.
Faced with the non-cooperation of Egypt which closes its doors (except for aid trucks entering through Rafah, and a few occasional ambulances in the opposite direction) remains the flight caused, by the sea, of an entire population of the enemy camp. Let us ask ourselves for a moment what a European reaction would be to boat people Palestinians from the Eastern Mediterranean, suddenly appearing on the horizon…
Nothing says that such a plan will be adopted and implemented, nor that it is feasible. But between Israeli officials discussing strategy, these are things we say to each other in 2023, behind closed doors – the source here is a right-wing Israeli newspaper, reputed to be close to Netanyahu.
If this is not a plan (or a desire) for ethnic cleansing, one wonders what is…
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) would like to be able to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity there – including the atrocious ones deliberately committed by Hamas against civilians on October 7.
Not forgetting the ultra Jewish settlers of the West Bank, armed by the Minister of National Security himself, to shoot like rabbits at the local Arab natives and put them, too, to flight (which apparently seems to work; some villages were reportedly emptied this way for two months). Here too, the ICC would like to put its nose into it: it could perhaps find “material for…”.
But all this is done in a context of impunity, of an unalterable feeling of moral purity, of a vital mission to accomplish despite the odds… and despite perhaps some secondary injustices.
After all, the only Evil at stake in this matter, you see, is always that of the Other. Its names are: anti-Semitism (a real problem by the way); radical and militant Islamism (undeniable reality, great transnational movement of our time, which has seized — among others — the Palestinian national cause); terrorism (ditto)… and a few others.
So much so that dialogue becomes impossible, that any effort to truly understand the enemy’s point of view (without bad faith or easy or self-interested caricature) becomes an intolerable betrayal.
This is what, among others — they are not the only ones — the current supporters of Israeli power are applying. By limitless colonization (uninterrupted carving up of the West Bank), by dehumanization of the enemy. By the desire, yes, to annihilate it… Which makes any future compromise, territorial or otherwise, impossible.
But Israel, in this new episode of an almost century-old war, and despite its overwhelming material superiority (briefly found wanting on October 7), is perhaps losing the battle on other fronts.
On a moral level, by its “hyperreaction” (although in contrast, the immorality of the dictatorial, violent and misogynistic Hamas… does not give its place). But also in terms of international image.
Not only are many Europeans — populations, but also governments — moving in a more pro-Palestinian direction, following in the footsteps of Spain, Ireland and Belgium, but even in the United States, the traditional unconditional ally, public opinion is moving; there is a beginning of embarrassment and self-examination.
The US Secretary of Defense has warned that “urban warfare can only be won by protecting civilians”, that this protection of civilians is “a moral responsibility and a strategic obligation”. “You cannot repeat to the south what you did to the north of Gaza,” Secretary of State Blinken told Israeli leaders in person on Thursday.
We know that Israel is perfectly capable of sending the whole world into disarray for its “good rights”… including the American friend when he gets angry. But 75 years after 1948, and after two months of this horror, Israel’s position appears weakened.
François Brousseau is an international affairs columnist at Ici Radio-Canada. [email protected]