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The neverending war: Did Hamas attack mark turning point in 75-year-old conflict?
On Saturday, the world awoke to the news Israel had been hit by an unprecedented attack when the Palestinian armed group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, entered roughly 20 communities near the region, killing at least 1 200 civilians.
At least 150 people were taken hostage.
The attack has been framed as a massive, colossal intelligence failure.
Hamas has previously conducted rocket attacks, infiltrations, and abductions, but this attack led to the deaths of more people than all of Hamas’ attacks since 2007 combined.
Hamas has pointed to the unchecked growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians, open racism of some members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, and provocative incidents at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, as reasons for the attack.
Though it was taken by surprise, Israel was quick to declare war on Hamas and launched a deadly retaliatory strike, leading to the deaths of at least 1 417 people in Gaza.
Images from inside Gaza, which has been blockaded since 2007, shows various neighbourhoods that have been flattened.
Israel is currently preparing for a ground offensive in Gaza, which is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Whatever happens next is likely to be a massive turning point in the 75-year-old conflict for both the future of Israel and Palestine.
A ground offensive comes with many challenges for the Israeli Defence Force.
Will the Israeli population accept more losses in the face of the recent attack, deepening divisions in Israeli society?
Will Israel remove Hamas by force and install another government? Are we likely to see the crisis spread to the West Bank?
In this week’s Friday Briefing, we examine the neverending war, with a submission from analyst and News24 columnist Ebrahim Harvey who reflects on recent events and considers if we will ever find a solution.
Mpumelelo Mkhabela, who is also a News24 columnist, who writes how apartheid fell in South Africa, and whether similar tactics used then could be employed in the Israel-Gaza conflict to bring about peace.
Deputy International Relations and Cooperation Minister Alvin Botes considers the paralysis that has emerged on the global stage to the recent developments in the region.
We also have a submission from the Jewish Board of Deputies’ David Saks who argues the flagrantly one-sided stance of the SA government against Israel has consistently belied its claimed commitment to dialogue, even-handedness and engaging with all parties.
To end the package, we have contributions from the Pan-African Palestine Solidarity Network and the Israeli ambassador to South Africa as well as a view from the Palestinian ambassador to South Africa.
We hope the submissions’ varying views provide insight into the ongoing war.
Best,
Vanessa Banton
Opinions editor.
The endless war: Why peace between Israel and Hamas remains elusive
The enormous, and in fact incalculable, damage done in so many ways over the past week cannot now be undone, and the hostility and hatred which has for 75 years characterised that conflict is going to be explosively deepened in the coming period, writes Ebrahim Harvey.
History’s judgement awaits the ANC government
When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian question, the SA government’s approach has diametrically contradicted its own stated policy regarding international disputes, writes David Saks.
The ongoing Nakba is on full display
In Gaza, genocide is not coming in a cloak of slow death. It is announced by Israeli officials, justified by Western powers, and aired on TV. The ongoing Nakba is on full display, and no one has the excuse of ignorance, writes Saleh Hijazi.
Gaza’s terror production line
Israel is fully legitimate to react in self-defence and to protect its citizens in the face of this barbaric aggression by enemies who openly thrive to annihilate us, writes Eliav Belotsercovsky.
Every loss of life is regrettable. How do we stop this?
It is easy and convenient to make the bloody events of the last week about Palestinian resistance. Palestinian resistance does not occupy Palestine; Israel does. Do not equate the occupier with the occupied, writes Hanan Jarrar.
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