Who is the real terrorist?

West Asia is once again becoming a battlefield. Hamas, the Palestinian resistance organisation, on Saturday morning, surprised not only Israel but the world with the speed and planning of its attacks on Israeli occupation centres. Hamas's move by land, air, and sea was perfectly coordinated. It dodged defence systems that Israeli officials boasted were invincible, with world-class surveillance networks and digital shields, leaving the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) helpless for ten hours. Dozens of Hamas fighters stormed Israeli towns on bikes, pickups, boats, and paragliders and attacked military bases. Israeli soldiers and civilians were taken hostage and taken away into Gaza. Declaring that this is a war, Israel's counter-attack has destroyed large residential buildings in Gaza. Hundreds died on both sides. Although the United Nations Security Council has called an emergency meeting, there is no word on when and how a ceasefire will be achieved. Until then, it is to be feared that damages will multiply. War is between two unequal powers. On the one hand is Gaza who are prisoners of open cages and victims of decades of siege, countless military offensives, and devastating wars. They are destined to fight for survival with local bombs made of stones and missiles put together by amateurs. On the other side is Israel, the Goliath with nuclear weapons and sophisticated military equipment. Hamas maintains that in this uncertain situation and despite the knowledge that the lightning attack would provoke Tel Aviv, it was ready for this adventure because all other options were closed.

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Israel, which was 'founded' by the Europeans and the UN by illegally giving the land of Palestine to the Jewish community hunted down by the Nazis in Europe, has been developing itself by turning the Palestinian people into refugees for three-quarters of a century. Israel's government has been ousting the locals in violation of international law and UN resolutions. They have been occupying land to create Jewish colonies. Gaza has been under siege for years. They get electricity only for a few hours. Trade and employment are limited. They do not have 'permission' to go outside. The West Bank also has illegal immigration, movement restrictions, and military rule. The rest of Palestine is under the illegal occupation of Israel. In addition to such injustices, the Israeli army has recently invaded the Al Aqsa Mosque and created havoc. When they are denied not only the resources of life but even their dignity as human being, what should the people of Palestine do? After decades of waiting for the international community and the UN to find a solution, they got nothing but deception, from the Oslo Accords to the handing over of Jerusalem to Israel. Finally, two weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu unveiled the 'New Middle East' with a map that didn't even have the word Palestine on it. Whichworld community should they look up to for peace efforts now that Zionist attacks on dignity and lives are increasing day by day?

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Hamas wouldn't have ventured for this battle with any certainty of a military victory. The organisation knew that before taking steps towards this adventure. But their psychological victory over Israel's ego is no small feat. By this action, they are putting one more question before the world: Who is the real attacker? Who is the real terrorist? Those who did not implement the UN resolution to allow the return of the Palestinians brutally expelled by Israel in 1948; those who defied the UN resolution to leave the territories captured in the 1967 war; those who did not listen to the UN's call to stop illegal immigration; those who resort to inhumane acts against civilians; human rights violators; those who maintain 'apartheid', including in the view of UN agencies; and those who commit war crimes. Israel is the party committing all this. At the same time, the Palestinians follow the UN document that allows armed struggle against the occupying forces to be permissible. Gandhiji said that Indian people are with Palestine against Israel out of a sense of justice. Former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee also had said "They must give up the Arab territory captured by Israel. It belongs to Palestinians". How can India, which stands on the side of justice, join the 'condemnation club' that views Palestinian resistance as terrorism? Noam Chomsky explained the irony of this: "You take my water, burn my olive trees, destroy my house, take my job, steal my land, imprison my father, kill my mother, bombard my country, starve us all, humiliate us all, but I am to blame: I shot a rocket back." Palestine is becoming the touchstone of the international community's sense of justice.

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