As with any war, civilians bear the brunt of the impact of an exchange of fire between combatants. Thus the safe and easy statements to make on the matter of Israel’s military response to the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against their citizens involve calls for ceasefires and truces.
The trouble with the one drafted by Jordan and put to the vote at the United Nations General Assembly is that it skirts a few details surrounding why this war erupted to begin with.
The Guardian reports…
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“The resolution did not recognise terror group Hamas as the perpetrator of the 7 October attack,” he said. “And Australia again explicitly calls for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.”
The US also took issue with Hamas not being named in the resolution.
“It is outrageous that this resolution fails to name the perpetrators of the October 7th terrorist attacks: Hamas. Hamas. It is outrageous,” said the United States ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “Another key word missing in this resolution is: hostage.”
The resolution did call for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all civilians illegally held captive and demanded their safety and humane treatment, and condemned attacks on both Palestinian and Israeli civilians.
The Philippines for its part echoed the same sentiment. Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, Sr., representative of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN reportedly said, “As we condemn all terrorist attacks, the resolution does not mention nor condemn the terrorist attack of [October 7] by Hamas leading to the death of innocent civilians including women and children, as well as some Filipinos…”.
Ultimately, however, much as we would like to think of these conflicts in terms of who is right or wrong, it comes down to who has the means to win such conflicts. If the world worked on the basis of those who are right being entitled to win, then there wouldn’t be a need for armies. The Philippines is learning this lesson the hard way. Israel, on the other hand, has a strong army and the means to win and, chances are, it will win this one.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
Appropriate Response.
“Ultimately, however, much as we would like to think of these conflicts in terms of who is right or wrong, it comes down to who has the means to win such conflicts. If the world worked on the basis of those who are right being entitled to win, then there wouldn’t be a need for armies.”
How you draw the line is what sets you apart from an animal that’s just trying to live. Even the lion gets eaten. The more we are able to generate, the more we should also be capable of being humane.
If the battle is just for flesh and blood and not for higher reasons, then it negates your cause for being.
I think the bigger threat is when evil breeds and cultivates itself among people who allow it.
Think of it though. Drawing that “line” also necessitates the application of violence. When Germany “crossed the line” and sought to commit genocide against the Jews and subjugate all of Europe, this was met by an allied force bent on completely destroying Germany’s ability to wage war — by carpet- and fire-bombing German cities and killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in the process.
The confronting question therefore is, who really presumes to be the authority on being “humane” or what is “good” or “evil”?
who is the final authority on good and evil?
fat man and little boy, thats who
Yes, that’s what I meant. Drawing the line means knowing how and when to use force. Because there is also something sinister in ignoring and allowing evil have its way.
About your question on who has the authority to judge what’s good or evil, I think good or evil affirms itself by the flourishing or destruction of life. If there’s a law or principle that transcends all else, it’s that there’s no one or nothing else that can make that judgment other than ourselves. As it is said in a book, “Mercy can satisfy the demands of justice.” And that “There is a place beyond judgment.”
And if we are to believe that there is an all-pervading force, then everything will fall into place.
evil is the ultimate good