Amnesty International, the highly respected auditor of human rights around the world, has issued its report on Israel's devastation of Gaza, reaching the same conclusion that was already apparent to most of the world: Israel inflicted “wanton destruction” on the Gaza Strip and it was Israel, not the Palestinians, who effectively used civilians as “human shields”, forcing women and children to remain as protection in houses occupied by Israeli soldiers. Hamas did not escape criticism, either. Its shelling of home-made rockets in civilian areas that harmed no one in response to the Israeli siege denying entry of basic necessities into Gaza Strip was termed a “war crime.” The situation in Gaza was not a pretty one before the Israeli attack and it has only turned uglier since. Israel's blockade of the territory has provoked a humanitarian disaster, according to the Red Cross, with malnourished Palestinian children suffering from a lack of food and medical supplies. Israel continues to display a sickening arrogance in the face of its vulgar disregard for the people of Gaza, laying the blame for Gaza's problems at the door of the Gazans themselves. The occupation not being enough, according to Israel's very own intransigence, Gaza is a part of Israel itself! Disregarding Palestinians right is not new, but even according to Israel's own hallucinated view, it is mind-boggling that any country, whatever its racial and religious composition, would relegate a specific segment of its population to live like animals. It is particularly galling that Jews, who themselves were persecuted, can treat another people in such a manner. “Never forget” is an oft-heard mantra among Jews the world over. But there is no conceivable reason for such a people to turn the tables and become the aggressor against a population that is native to the land that Israel has occupied. Yes, Hamas deserves condemnation for its rocket attacks but casualty figures prove in which camp a real disregard for human life lies. __
