‘Existential threat’ is a thin excuse: the out-of-control force that is pushing the Middle East to the brink is Israel itself, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
Archived version: https://archive.ph/9XBQI
If you look at the comments under any YouTube video about Gaza or Lebanon, it’s mostly people cheering it on, especially on videos from major media outlets.
It seems like people understand the immense human toll and just don’t care because they want to see Israel continue to take out alleged military targets regardless of civilian deaths. It’s truly evil and reminiscent of any other genocide in history, the victims just aren’t respected as humans.
I’m tired of seeing this over and over, even in the information age. I’m starting to be convinced that humanity is just not viable as a species and is destined to destroy itself ad infinitum over shit like this.
The whole point of genocide is that it is inexcusable. There’s just no condition under which it can be justified.
It bothers me when people pretend Lebanon was Israel crossing some line in the sand. They’ve been carrying out a genocide for almost a year now. If suddenly bombing another civilian population is the point in which you are willing to accept that it’s problematic, chances are we’re not going to get along very well.
Of course, better late than never. But it bothers me.
It’s not a line in the sand, it’s an escalation.
Of course for the region, it is an escalation of the conflict and it’s problematic as fuck.
But for the international community sitting around with their heads up their ass waiting too decide whether or not they should condemn Netanyahu, he has been committing a genocide undisturbed for almost a fucking year now. It’s the one thing we all agreed we would not allow to happen again. Pretending any fear of escalation or anything at all has any moral bearing at anything at this point is just bullshit, and any politician serving pathetic non-answers mumbling about a “fear of escalation” at this point while refusing to publicly oppose Netanyahu should receive a standing invitation to join him in the Hague.
But of course, I’m not saying Israel’s actions in Lebanon doesn’t matter. I’m just saying people who change their mind at this point should take the opportunity to reconsider how okay they are with massacring civilian populations.
Obviously, they have to conquer the entire Middle East before they feel safe enough.
