Collateral Damage: The Heartbreaking Neglect of Palestinian Humanity

In the last eight months, we have seen unspeakable horrors unfold, the kind that leave you searching for words that don’t exist. The mass slaughter of tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them innocent children, has left an indelible mark on our collective conscience. The relentless live-streaming of these atrocities has shattered even the most cynical observers of Western political and media elites.

The dehumanization of Palestinians has reached its most hideous zenith. This tragedy isn't merely about the staggering loss of life but the complete erasure of its value.

On October 7, four Israeli hostages were seized. In the bid to rescue them, Israeli forces killed many Palestinians, including children. Footage shows Israeli troops killing three Israeli hostages who were waving white flags and screaming in Hebrew. The operation to rescue the hostages resulted in more deaths than lives saved, a grim pattern in Israeli military interventions.

The devastation in Gaza is beyond words. Tens of thousands of civilians have been slaughtered, among them at least 15,000 children. The Israeli military's use of a humanitarian aid truck and a civilian car to sneak into central Gaza, a war crime in itself, has put all aid workers at risk, further slowing the scant aid reaching Gaza. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and the imposition of famine have left Gaza in ruins.

Double standards abound. When Hamas is accused of using civilian structures for military purposes, it justifies the destruction of these infrastructures. Yet, when Israel uses similar tactics, the response is muted. The most effective means of freeing hostages—ceasefire and prisoner exchanges—are often sidelined in favor of military actions that lead to further bloodshed.

International media often erase the horror faced by Palestinians. Headlines like "For Israel, a Rare Day of Joy Amid Bloodshed as Four Hostages Rescued Alive" from the Washington Post reflect a troubling indifference to Palestinian lives. This erasure of Palestinian humanity is stark and disturbing.

Politicians and commentators celebrating these operations need to be held accountable. They should be asked if the slaughter of over 200 Palestinians, many of them children, is an acceptable price for the release of four Israeli hostages. Such questions need to be posed publicly to expose the moral bankruptcy of these justifications.

The taking of hostages is a grave war crime, and the release of the Israeli hostages in good health is a relief. However, this should not overshadow the thousands of Palestinians held by the Israeli state without charge, often in horrific conditions. Reports of sexual violence and torture of Palestinian detainees, buried deep in news articles, reflect the brutal reality of the occupation. These acts would be front-page news if committed by Hamas, but when the perpetrators are Israeli, the response is tepid.

The disproportionate response from the Israeli military, coupled with the international community's selective outrage, underscores a deeply rooted hypocrisy that must be challenged.

Palestinians deserve to live in peace, with their rights and humanity acknowledged and respected. The path to true justice involves holding all perpetrators accountable, ending the occupation, and ensuring that aid and support reach those in desperate need without political interference.

It also means amplifying Palestinian voices and stories, which are too often overshadowed or ignored by mainstream media.

Our collective conscience must no longer tolerate the systematic dehumanization of an entire population. The world must stand in solidarity with Palestinians, advocating for a future where they can live with the same security, freedom, and dignity afforded to others.

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