Don’t Palestinians deserve a life worth living?

The world is going through some cruel times. Not that such inhumanity had not occurred before -- the first and second world wars, and Hitler's holocaust of the Jewish people are among mankind's darkest chapters.

However, the current brutality is a bit different. This time almost the entire world is actively or passively supporting it, which is unprecedented.

Yes, I am talking about the plight of the Palestinians. I am talking about Israeli occupation, murder, and brutality, which is being aided by some of the world's most prominent powers.

Palestinian militant outfit Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,300 people. In retaliation, Israel attacked Gaza. Over the last 10 days, the area has been pounded with thousands of bombs, killing thousands of women, children, and men. Their houses have been destroyed; hospitals, schools, ambulances -- nothing has been spared. Moreover, the remaining residents have been ordered to evacuate.

Once it was the rightful land of Palestinians. Israel waged a six-day war in 1967 to occupy it. For almost 17 years, Gaza has been under a blockade and is deemed the world's largest "open-air prison". Mahmoud Abbas was elected president of Palestine in 2005. After Yasser Arafat's passing in 2004, Mahmoud became the leader of Fatah. However, he lost in the primary election of 2006. In the same year, Fatah was defeated by Hamas in a civil war. Winning the election in 2007, Hamas formed the government in Gaza.

Gaza is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt on two sides, while Israel borders it on the remaining two sides.

Gaza strip: a small area of 365 square kilometres, is inhabited by 2.3 to 2.4 million Palestinians. About 70 percent of these people live below the poverty line and 65 percent are unemployed.

Since Hamas came to power in 2007, Egypt and Israel have put Gaza under blockade. These two nations have complete control over what goes in and comes out of Gaza.

Lack of work and food and basic amenities are constants in Gaza.

Undoubtedly, Hamas conducted some brutal acts upon infiltrating Israel. But why did Hamas attack Israel? There could be two reasons.

Firstly, the countries that were on Palestine's side and against Israel are also slowly but surely normalising relations with Israel. The Arab League of Nations as well as the unofficial leader of the region, Saudi Arabia, have taken this path. The Palestinians, as well as Hamas, might have thought that no one was supporting their cause anymore.

By attacking Israel, Hamas sent the message that no peace process can move ahead without taking into account the plight of the Palestinians.

Secondly, Israel has been occupying additional Palestinian land and, almost on a daily basis, setting up Jewish settlements. They have been torturing and killing the Palestinians. Ironically, the government of Israel had promised the citizens that no matter what happened, they would remain safe. Hamas's attack implied that even Israeli citizens are not safe. Read More..