|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Submitted by Trish Munro
From the primaries to the Oscars, the war between Israel and Hamas continues to play an outside role at every level of politics. It is given far more attention than any other brutal conflict, with the exception (perhaps) of Ukraine. So let’s make the international local and think about what, presumably, everyone in the world wants: a permanent ceasefire. Great goal, but how do we get there?
This is a war that began on October 7 (both Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah) with Hamas breaking an existing ceasefire with a gruesomely barbaric attack that targeted the most vulnerable (and, oddly, many who were actively working to further peace between individuals and the two peoples).
The attack included kidnapping well over 200 people. Though some hostages were released, 130 remained. Of those, recent reports indicate that sixty have died. What, if anything, should the world do about these captives? What can or should Israel do to secure their release? If Hamas says no — as it continues to do — how should the world respond?
Second, there is no question that the people of Gaza are suffering and that too many have died. (Who and how many have died is another question. Casualty reports come from Hamas, hardly a reliable source. That is not the main point.) Every death is a loss that we should mourn.
But using those deaths to advocate for policy decisions like ceasefires will not bring lasting peace. War is called hell for a good reason: When war is waged, both soldiers and civilians suffer. It is the role of government to protect civilians, not deliberately place them in the line of fire. How much responsibility does a negligent government bear for the deaths of its people during war?
Third, assuming that hostages were freed, assuming that Hamas and Netanyahu’s government reached an agreement, what then? On October 6, 2023, there was a ceasefire. On October 7, there was not. We still live with the after-effects of 9/11, yet an ocean and a continent separate us from those who attacked us. How can security be established between the two peoples so that they can live in peace?
There are no easy answers. There is, however, ample space to grieve for everyone involved and wish that all involved can arrive at a swift and peaceful resolution.
