It is imperative to clarify some facts in the Craig Wilson’s letter to the editor entitled “Israel violating international law with its response in Gaza” published in Juneau Empire on January 12, 2024.
The main arguments of Wilson’s narrative, resembling the far-left ideology and world-wide pro-Palestinian movement, are that Gaza is a tiny and crowded land and,” Israel is flattening Gaza with bombs supplied by the U.S., demolishing nearly a quarter of the infrastructure and killing over 20,000 civilians in the process in clear violation of international humanitarian law.”
There is a different angle and perspective, however, to look at this region and its recent occurrences. The Gaza Strip is tucked among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. The strip is 25 miles long by some 3.7 to 7.5 miles wide, and has a total area of 141 square miles. According to the CIA Factbook, it has 2.2 million people living in this area.
Over several decades, the Gaza government has been receiving billions of dollars in aid and essential resources from the West to develop their infrastructure. But instead, they invested this capital in building 350 miles of tunnels, obtained thousands of rockets from Iran and others, elected a terrorist organization, Hamas, to govern their people, and are instructing their children, from kindergarten on, to hate and eventually exterminate their nearest neighbor — Israel.
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To make a proper comparison with Gaza, Singapore is a tropical island in Southeast Asia, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is about 275 square miles, smaller than the State of Rhode Island and nearly 12 times smaller than the City Borough of Juneau (3,255 square miles). Singapore is inhabited by over 5.2 million people, of which the resident population comprises of four major communities: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian.
In short, proportionately, the size and population of two regions are almost identical, with the Singapore population per square miles is slightly larger than in Gaza. Nevertheless, Singapore is one of the most advanced and developed countries in the world, including democratic system of governing, outstanding educational system, superb technology and sophisticated transportation system.
What is the most critical aspect for all peace-seeking nations to understand is that on October 7th, 2023, Gaza/Hamas attacked Israel, heinously killed and mutilated 1,500 civilians in Israel, and kidnaped 240 hostages. Gaza terrorists wanted the war and initiated an aerial attack on Israel, launching randomly nearly 15,000 rockets to the populated areas of Israel. They did not ask Israelites to relocate to the south, north, west or east. They just indiscriminately dropped those rockets on the civilian population. And if Hamas had a nuclear weapon, they would use it without any hesitation.
The war would be over by now if Hamas surrender, get out of the tunnels, and return remaining hostages to their families. Why don’t they?
The views expressed here are those of the author.
18 Comments
Mr. D: the war on Palestinians hasn’t ended in 75 yrs. More really, if you consider the British occupation that started ~1903. Don’t be dumb and try to persuade people into believing that Israel hasn’t subjugated and tortured these people by blockading them into the strip with walls and smart fences, built in 2016, totally controlling their supply lines, and barring them from escape. It’s an open air prison. Maybe I should call it a “Gulag” so you’ll understand it.
I understand the meaning of “Gulag” better than most people in the West. I was subjected to one in my distant past in the former Soviet Union. Gaza Strip is not a “Gulag,” not even close. It seems to me that you misunderstood my point in my article—Gaza could be just like Singapore if they used their resources appropriately instead of hate.
If you want to blame somebody for where we are today in various hot spots of Africa, Asia and Middle East, then blame the post-colonial politics for creating construct countries all over the world by British, Spanish, Portuguese, French politicians, etc., without any consideration for those regions demographics, history, geography and ethnic complexity. Perhaps, I was clear enough in elaborating my point on Hamas ideology and intentions in the comments below.
An imigragrant with seemingly much passion for our involvement in foreign wars as well as supporting foreign countries far more then this country. As the kids would say, “very sus”.
You have no idea what you are even talking about DeeCee good lord. Do you even remember the plo ?? Terrorists now they let Hamas which means violence in Hebrew take over their murder campaign and look what we have. There are a lot of innocent Palestinians getting killed but remember the saying. You ride with them you can hang with them.
If you believe in God they Hate you, just like the Americans on the left.
How does that quip go? Hate the religion but love the religionist?
It’s Sunday are you going to church today.
The reason they don’t stop is because they worship Allah, which is another name for Satan, and he holds no quarter in his pursuit to destroy all things of God. Satan has no knees, and his only pronouncement is non-serviam. If they capitulate, they will have to acknowledge that God’s chosen exist, and are victorious over the minions of the devil. Pride goeth before the fall. Simple as that.
The answer to this question also could be because Hamas is willing to absorb the loses of life and property to try to win their long game. They are funded and supported by the Gulf States and Iran. They enjoy great international support, including the United Nations. They are actually dedicated to Islamic jihad and expansion; Israel is an impediment and cannot be tolerated. They do not want to coexist with a Jewish state. Their strategy is not a peaceful two state solution; they want to expand the Caliphate throughout the Levant. After that, they want to continue to expand back into lands previously conquered by Islam—southern Europe. All of Western Civilization is their ultimate prize. The Koran demands it. In short, there is no negotiations with this ancient and fanatical death cult.
Facts ,,,, Israel pulled all troops from. said area on Oct and allowed the attack to. go on for 7 hrs. fact Christian families also being slaughtered, fact Netanyahu and Generals will not stop the attack citing the Torah claiming that they are Edom and must be cleansed, also how long are the tunnels of the Chabad in Brooklyn? some Genocides are justified it seems…
https://www.nydailynews.com/2016/02/16/the-story-behind-the-strange-8th-ave-subway-statues-and-the-cartoons-that-inspired-them/
Judaism was there for thousands of years before Muhhamed was even born. Israel is now 60 miles wide but Islam covers 6,000 miles from Senegal, Africa to Pakistan and beyond. Who are the settler colonists? It’s not Israel, it’s the Muslims. They are currently actively colonizing Africa through beheading Christians, Europe and America through mass migration. You liberals are going to be in for one hell of a surprise when Sharia Law is implemented in Alaska.
I have seen recent videos of Muslims who just walked across our border in Arizona prostrating to Mecca as their first act on American soil. Who are these people? Nobody knows but they get free everything from the American taxpayers. You can thank Obama and the Democrat Party for that.
Obama?
Can we not also thank Biden, who has turned our southern border into one giant open door for anyone to enter? Everyone who has plans to destroy us from within is welcomed with open arms. …fantastic way to “preserve our democracy,” China Joe.
The Tower Of Babble and Semiramis rule was a failure but this style of rule is still trying to take the world by the same group that worships Semiramis and goons called the WEF
Their goal to turn world upside down
The Tower Of Babble and Nimrod Semiramis rule was a failure but this style of rule is still trying to take the world by the same group that worships Nimrod and goons called the WEF
Their goal to turn world upside down
Check this Paul Harvey clip https://youtu.be/jnPE8u5ONls?si=s_jo0ZGJlsjsEwhL
1965
Isn’t that Paul Harvey clip something Ed. ?? Makes the hair on your neck stand up. I believe we are going to see things happening on our soil over the next 10 months that will separate the men from the boys. We have clearly had it to easy for 2 long in America. It’s unfortunate what is happening and the speed at which it’s happening.