The mismatch in casualty figures reflects on the nature of the conflicting parties. While Israel shields its population from rocket fire, dead Gazans are part of Hamas war plan
last week, India joined Pakistan and a number of other dictatorial and theocratic states, in passing an asymmetrically-biased resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva condemning Israel for its military operations in the Gaza strip. Indeed, much is being said about the ‘asymmetry' of the Gaza conflict: How Israel is using ‘disproportionate force' against a ‘defenseless' population. The military might of Israel is juxtaposed against ‘homemade' rockets of Hamas, and low the casualty figures on the Israeli side are compared to the civilian death toll in Gaza to bring home the point that this is an ‘asymmetrical' contest.
However, the asymmetry ignored by liberal commentators, is the asymmetry of their argument. Since Israel dismantled all its settlements and handed charge of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority in 2005, some 11,000 rockets have been lobbed into Israel. The fact that Israel has developed missile defense capabilities that intercept most of the rockets fired from Gaza, does not absolve Hamas from the culpability of its crimes. let us also not downplay these deadly weapons of warfare by calling them ‘ineffective'. They have medium-range missile capabilities, in the hands of a terrorist outfit that has little regard for civilian lives on either side of the border.
Israel is certainly not infallible, as democracies seldom are. However, it remains a society that gives equal rights to all its citizens, including over a million Arab Muslims who enjoy equal rights and freedom — unprecedented in modern day West Asia. Contrary to popular myth, Hamas does not constitute the elected and legitimate Government in Gaza. Yes, it did get elected in 2006, but it has not bothered to renew its mandate since seizing power seven years ago. A Government that throws its political rivals off multi-storied buildings after taking office, practices gender segregation, liquidates dissidents and calls for the annihilation of its neighbouring (Jewish) state, cannot be called ‘democratic’ by any stretch of imagination.
The disproportion in casualty figures is reflective of the nature of the two conflicting parties. While Israel puts its entire ingenuity and resources in protecting its population from missiles raining from the sky — 2,100-plus rockets since the beginning of this conflict three weeks ago — the civilian casualties in Gaza, on the other hand, are part of Hamas’s ‘corporate strategy'. Hamas uses schools, mosques and populated areas to launch missile attacks. It has issued a fatwa asking civilians to ignore Israeli warnings and uses deadly force to ensure civilian compliance.
In contrast, the Israeli Defence Forces issue prior warning of imminent strikes by dropping leaflets, making phone calls to residents and firing non-explosive charges at the intended location — called ‘roof knocking'; giving even the Hamas operatives time to escape. Despite being under ceaseless rocket fire, Israel delivers electricity and essential goods to Gaza. It has set up a field hospital along its border where Israeli technicians have put their lives at risk repairing power lines knocked down by Hamas in the first place. let us have no illusions about Hamas waging some glorious people's resistance or caring about Islam. Hamas does not care less about the safety of 1.6 million strong Israeli Arab population when it fires indiscriminately at Israel. Also, since July 8, over 100 Hamas rocket have landed on its own territory in Gaza.
As for Israel's much debated ‘disproportionate' response to Hamas, do liberal pundits want Israel to rain down equal amount of ammunition over Gaza to settle score, instead of acting responsibly by eliminating rocket launching sites, stockpiles and the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas — as it is doing right nowIJ In face of unprovoked aggression and repeated rejection of ceasefire offers by Hamas, Israel does not only have the right, but has an obligation to protect its citizens — Jews, Muslims and Christians — with all the means at its disposal.