Gaza: Israel launches new ground offensive
Following airstrikes last week, the Israeli military announced on Saturday that it has launched a new ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced the intention of conquering and permanently occupying the area. According to Palestinian sources, dozens of people are being killed in the attacks every day.
Cynical tactics
Israel's new willingness to allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip gives no cause for optimism, the Frankfurter Rundschau laments:
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains inhumane, and Netanyahu's promise doesn't change the fact that he is pushing the army to launch a new offensive regardless of the cost: both in terms of civilian lives and infrastructure - and also without regard for the hostages still trapped in Gaza. On the contrary: Netanyahu's office has said that famine must be avoided so as not to jeopardise the offensive - thus exposing its profound cynicism. ... This means that scepticism is still called for regarding Netanyahu's ostensibly humanitarian concession.”
No compassion
Phileleftheros writes:
“It's astounding - and future historians will hold us accountable for this - how the Western gaze has become accustomed to seeing Palestinians either as 'terrorists' or primarily as second-class victims. Their dead have no names, no faces, no stories. ... They are simply exterminated. ... What is the basis of this dehumanisation? A sense of historical superiority? Colonialism? ... It's shocking that such a massive and documented crime, involving tens of thousands of dead, wounded, refugees, homeless and starving people is not being treated with the same moral and political consistency and sensitivity as similar cases.”
What about the voice of the Muslim world?
Karar appeals to Turkey and other countries not to abandon the Palestinians:
“Donald Trump may be old, but he's not stupid. He will not want to draw fire by displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, but will leave the resettlement to the Arab countries and Turkey. It's clear that the Western world is indifferent to the fate of Muslims because of its historical past. But what about the Muslim countries? Even if they don't want to help out of solidarity with other Muslims, have they lost all sense of conscience? And what about Turkey? ... Can it not at least raise its voice now?”
Review trade relations with Israel
Dagens Nyheter demands:
“The EU is an important trading partner for Israel, and also has a certain amount of clout. It is therefore good and absolutely necessary that Sweden is backing the Netherlands' demand that the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which regulates trade among other things, be reviewed. The agreement states that the parties' internal and international policies should be guided by respect for human rights and democratic principles. ... Given the current situation in Gaza - with starvation, death and a lack of medical care - it's hard to come to any other conclusion than that the EU must now make clear that this war has its price.”