The War in Gaza
on the full implications of supporting either side
In the war being waged in Gaza both sides, at least in their public rhetoric, have cast this present episode of heightened violence as an existential struggle in the most literal terms: this time it is, both say, a fight to the death. The only end that can be is the total destruction — if not to say the complete elimination — of the other side.
I think people are failing to see what that means. It means that for other people to take a side, supporting either, is to call for the destruction, or worse, of the other. I’m not sure people who are demonstrating for either side are fully aware of that.
Personally, I cannot be in favor of either side. Both have too much of a history of bad acts. Even so, I don’t think that the people on either side deserve what victory for the other side would apparently entail.
We all understand that neither side will ever simply capitulate. Both sides owe it to common humanity to cease firing.