Summary

The article discusses the Israel-Hamas conflict, questioning the effectiveness of public discourse and the focus on political and ideological aspects rather than the human cost of war.

Abstract

The author reflects on the public's response to the Israel-Hamas war, criticizing the tendency to engage in political debates and propaganda rather than focusing on the loss of human life. Highlighting the futility of questions that dominate the discourse, such as media bias and celebrity opinions, the author emphasizes the need to prioritize the safety and lives of civilians, particularly children. The article draws parallels with other conflicts, such as the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, and calls for a shift in global consciousness towards preventing violence and protecting humanity, rather than fueling division through partisan questions.

Opinions

The author expresses frustration with the public's focus on political aspects of the conflict, such as media coverage and celebrity endorsements, rather than the human suffering caused by the war.
There is a sentiment that the questions being asked in the public sphere are not contributing to saving lives or resolving the conflict.
The article suggests that the strength of Hamas is irrelevant when considering the loss of innocent lives, including those of children.
The author criticizes the dehumanization of those involved in the conflict, emphasizing that casualties are not just statistics but individuals with families and beliefs.
The piece questions the value of historical "achievements" such as Hamas's alleged 9/11-level attack on Israel, weighing it against the current humanitarian crisis.
There is a call for global movements to pressure countries to negotiate peace before wars escalate to the point of mass casualties.
The author proposes that if conflicts are inevitable, they should be conducted away from civilian populations to minimize harm.
The article conveys a personal perspective on the impact of war, particularly the pain of a mother losing a child, and the importance of telling stories of humanity amidst conflict.
The author draws a parallel between the lack of international intervention during the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria and the current situation in Gaza, highlighting a sense of abandonment by the global community.
The piece concludes by inviting readers to engage in a deeper conversation about the war and to support the author, who is excluded from a partnership program, with a symbolic "cup of coffee."

Israel V. Hamas: Why Are People Asking The Wrong Questions?

From Boko Haram to Gaza, A Mother’s Perspective on the Israel-Hamas War.

I was on The Atlantic early this morning and once again, I was confounded by the fact that so many people do not seem to see the forest for the trees when it comes to war.

Go through many conversations on this war between Israel and Hamas and you will find commenters going:

Another propaganda!
Where was The Atlantic when the occupiers were occupying Gaza?
Where is the coverage for the Palestinian people?
How dare Kylie Jenner show support for Israel?

Not one of these questions has saved one soul.

I do not know the strength of Hamas. What I do think is that they seem unmatched against Israel and for that, I am very angry because:

No matter how angry you are, why will a group of people decide and choose for me, the day my children and I die?

But Hamas made history- Israel has suffered what many people are calling their own 9/11:

The surprise terrorist attacks that shattered Israel on Oct. 7 are without precedent.

History made. Is this where we clap?

Down these occupiers?

In retrospect, is that same history worth the current carnage in the region?

1500 bodies of Hamas infiltrators recovered by Israel along its border.

Infiltrators?

What are infiltrators? These are fathers, brothers, benefactors. These were people with names, ideas…with beliefs.

We are at war!

Benjamin Netanyahu repeated three times. And next, we got news of how Israel planned to lay siege on… people’s children. Parents who wake up daily looking for the daily bread of their family? But let’s call all that — laying siege on Gaza.

How do groups of people wake up, decide, and choose the day millions of people die?

This remains my question, no matter how naive it may sound to anyone’s ears.

Politicians are doing what they do best: pointing fingers in front of television screens but other people’s children are on the front lines dying.

To make a statement, people are beheaded on Television — the more gruesomely, the better. People are put in front of recorders where they have to plead for their lives, watched by people dead behind their eyes and shot to tell…us (?), that more deaths will follow if A or B isn’t done.

And we are busy taking sides with our questions: Why is so and so supporting Israel or Palestine?

I do not know of any movements that have gone global because they were putting pressure on countries to come to the table. We always leave it until there is a war and people are dying for no justifiable reason.

If people are desperate to fight, fine. Find other desperate fighters and call for a duel in a desert, away from people who did not ask for a fight. Take out your grievances on one another. Then broadcast the winners to us. Duel away from fathers, mothers, and children.

In this war, I do not care what Israel did. I do not care what Hamas did. I care that children are dying. I care that humans are dying and I care that we are asking all the wrong questions!

One resident of Gaza said they got warning calls from the Israeli military to vacate — to save themselves. As crazy as it sounds, this for some reason warmed my heart for a second — who, except a sociopath, wants to go and start shooting innocent people? If there are stories to be harvested and told in the media — the stories of humanity should be told. The stories of how we are still human at the core should be told.

I am a mother. I have sat in deep horror watching and imagining this war:

How will I survive after raising my daughter for 23 years, she goes to a rave, gets killed and I hear about it on the news. Not just that, I see her lifeless naked body, indecently exposed on the back of a truck, some strange man sitting on her like she is some seat.

This…will be my last image of my own child? And my cries will just be, please how do I recover her body? Because even dead, I still cannot hold her…bury her?

Is my daughter Israel? Is my daughter, Hamas? And you want to tell me what Israel has done or that Hamas is a terrorist group?

In my anger, I remember when the dreaded terrorist group — Boko Haram rained steady terror on Northern Nigeria and no one came to help. 276 Daughters were kidnapped from their secondary school. Brothers were beheaded in farms. Parents were burned at their shops and No One Came to save us. All that happened were politicians pointing fingers at each other while Boko Haram carried on destroying the lives of people. Today, I fear the same is ongoing in Gaza.

Bombs are flying and landing in Gaza and everywhere else war is ongoing and just like it happened in Nigeria, all I hear are talks and as we all know, talk is cheap.

Thank you very much for reading. What are your words on the war?

We have so much more to talk about so please engage and because my country is excluded from the partnership program, I would also appreciate a cup of coffee. Thank you.