As the death toll in the Israel-Hamas war rises, a phase, perhaps with Celtic heritage, “He who pays the piper, calls the tune” may offer real direction on the way for the international community to bring some influence to their expressed support for both the elimination of the Hamas threat and the protection of civilian lives.
Lana Bastašić, author of the novel Catch the Rabbit, grew up in Bosnia, amid fear and hatred of Muslims. Now she sees Germany’s mistakes over Gaza. As a child, she saw what follows ethnic cleansing. She is speaking out about Germany’s silence over Palestinian deaths. In an Opinion piece in the Guardian, she questions if the Israeli army “war on terror” amounts to collective punishment.
The Gaza Strip, already impoverished by occupation and an unlawful 16-year blockade, whose population is made up of 47% children is being carpet-bombed by the most powerful army in the Middle East with the help of the most powerful allies in the world. More than 4,600 Palestinians lie dead and many more face death in the absence of a ceasefire, because they can’t escape bombardment or lack access to water, food or electricity. The Israeli army claims that its offensive, now being stepped up is a “war on terror”; UN experts say it amounts to collective punishment. (Bastašić, 2023)
AJLabs in an article on the Al Jazeera website notes that Israel has one of the world’s most powerful militaries. It is bolstered by more than $3.8bn of military aid a year from the US.
Israel is the most significant recipient of US foreign aid, having received some $263bn between 1946 and 2023.
This is almost double (1.7 times more) than the second-highest recipient of US foreign aid, Egypt, which received $151.9bn in the past 77 years. (Labs, 2023)
On 15 June 2022 an article on the Save the Children website shared on how fifteen years of life under blockade has left four out of five children in the Gaza Strip reporting that they live with depression, grief and fear.
The report, titled “Trapped”, found a huge increase in children who reported feeling fearful (84% compared to 50% in 2018), nervous (80% compared to 55%), sad or depressed (77% compared to 62%) and grieving (78% compared to 55%). It also found that more than half of Gaza’s children have contemplated suicide[i] and three out of five are self-harming[ii] . (After 15 Years of Blockade, Four Out of Five Children in Gaza Say They Are Living With Depression, Grief and Fear, 2022)
The diplomatic and military efforts of President Biden and the United States have been publicized as being aimed at both the need for security of Israel from attack and the protection of civilian lives. As the majour donor source paying the Israel military piper, the United States has the ability to “call the tune” of the activities and battle plans of the IDF. The situation on the ground today requires the American government to assure protection, humanitarian aid, and restoration of homes for the civilian refugees from Gaza. It seems this assurance can be obtained from Israel by making satisfying these needs a condition of continued military assistance.
References
After 15 years of blockade, four out of five children in Gaza say they are living with depression, grief and fear. (2022, June 15). Save the Children International. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.savethechildren.net/news/after-15-years-blockade-four-out-five-children-gaza-say-they-are-living-depression-grief-and
Bastašić, L. (2023, October 23). I grew up in Bosnia, amid fear and hatred of Muslims. Now I see Germany's mistakes over Gaza | Lana Bastašić. The Guardian. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/23/bosnia-muslims-germany-gaza-ethnic-cleansing-palestinian?
Labs, A. (2023, October 11). How big is Israel's military and how much funding does it get from the US? Al Jazeera. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/11/how-big-is-israels-military-and-how-much-funding-does-it-get-from-the-us
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