No sign of Israel-Palestine war ending

Editor’s note: Because this incident occurred after press time, it was not included in our story. A Monday Israeli air strike on Rafah killed at least 45 people, including women and children. Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the strike on the site, which had previously been marked as a “safe zone,” a “tragic mistake.” Netanyahu has pledged a full investigation.

A Monday Israeli air strike on Rafah killed at least 45 people, including women and children. Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the strike on the site, which had previously been marked as a “safe zone,” a “tragic mistake.” Netanyahu has pledged a full investigation.

It has been seven long months since an attack undertaken by Hamas and Palestinian terrorists on an Israeli music festival that killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis. In addition, another 250 men, women and children including 31 Americans, were taken hostage.

By any definition, the surprise attack—an attack that had been warned of by American intelligence—was gruesome. Many of the victims were burned and mutilated and required scientific testing to later be identified.

In retaliation, Israel has launched a muscular offensive from land, sea and air that has resulted in more than 35,000 Gazan deaths, an estimated 80,000 permanently injured and as many as 1.8 million Gazans now without permanent housing.

While there have been loud and often violent protests against the Israeli counter offensive, including scores across the United States, there has also been similar condemnation of Hamas. Blame is laid on both sides.

Last Friday, the UN’s International Court of Justice condemned Israel for its offensive and ordered it to stop. But to date, nothing has changed nor, said Ahmed Abdrabou, of the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies, does he expect that anything will change any time soon.

“The only way to end this war,” said Abdrabou, “is approach a cease fire followed by a negotiations to get all of Israel’s hostages back home in return of freeing Palestinian prisoners.” The DU international relations expert said, a good second step would be entering talks giving Palestinians their own state, an idea considered a longshot considering Israel’s current government.

While much of the international community might see wisdom in the idea, Abdrabou said unless there is a significant change in Israeli leadership, that is, a new Prime Minister replacing current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, nothing will happen. Netanyahu has vowed he will never allow establishment of a Palestinian state.

Abdrabou admits, both ideas are a pipedream. “It’s easy to say, but it’s tough to implement with the current prime minister.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed repeatedly that “I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all the territory west of the Jordan (River),” meaning Gaza.

The war has inspired countless protests against both sides. Pro-Israeli groups have condemned Hamas for its barbarity on October 7th and its continued attacks on Israel, albeit on much smaller scale. Meanwhile, almost daily pro-Palestinian protests critical of the deadly bombardment in Gaza and the iron-fisted restrictions on food, water and medicine entering Gaza. Pro-Palestinian groups have gone so far as to label Israel’s prosecution of the war as genocide.

Last Friday, the United Nation’s International Court of Justice issued an order to Israel to live up to its obligations under the Genocide Convention and halt its offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.

Denver Rabbi Emerita Birdie Becker condemns the carnage. “I don’t think anyone with a heart can look at that and say it’s not terrible. Of course, I understand that it’s war and war is always terrible.” But the long-time spiritual leader says the blame rests with Hamas. Becker acknowledges the imperfection of the relationship between these two neighbors. But argues that Israel has a history of working with Gazans. “I know of no other place where the enemy one is fighting provides infrastructure, supplies and nourishment, let alone gives warning of upcoming destruction and time and place to move for safety as the (sic) Israel does.”

Becker also points to the spike in antisemitism over the last several years. “The normalization of hate and ‘othering’,” she said, “has seen a disproportionate rise in antisemitism since 2015.” She also said too many, if not most, calls for intifada and Western caliphate are spoken too often by those who don’t truly understand their meanings. It’s a campaign waged by those who don’t truly understand Hamas and its goals.

“They (Hamas) take advantage of the Palestinians who live in Gaza,” she said. “They took all the funding that was given to them (Gazans) and built underground tunnels and war materials.” Hamas, she argued, has stated unequivocally to “annihilate the state of Israel and wipe Jews off the face of the earth.” That, said Becker, “is the only genocide.”

The 1988 Hamas Covenant clearly states that its goal is “The complete destruction of Israel as an essential condition for the liberation of Palestine and establishment of a theocratic state based on Islamic law.” Hamas will, the covenant states, conduct a holy war (jihad) to “attain the objective.” But a strikingly similar vow was made against Hamas shortly after October 7th by Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. “I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip,” Gallant said. “There will be no electricity, no water, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and are acting accordingly.” Neither he nor the Israeli government taken back the words.

While there have been lulls in the attacks by Israel, much of the physical damage to Gaza has already been done. It is estimated that rebuilding it, even if it began today, would take a minimum of fourteen years.

But rebuilding has become a back-burner thing with simple survival for hundreds of thousands in Gaza the priority. But with Israel controlling both entry and exit points for everything from food to fuel, survival has become problematic for thousands.

“Both Bibi (Netanyahu) and the leaders of Hamas have committed war crimes,” said Abdrabou, “and both should stand before the International Criminal Court in the Hague.” Netanyahu for prosecuting the war, he said, to “prolong his career,” and Hamas leaders for October 7th and continuing to work toward their vow of erasing Israel from the face of the earth.