Do Palestinians Have the Right to Defend Themselves?

 Do Palestinians have the right to defend themselves? The answer is yes.

"Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs...... surely it would be a crime against humanity to reduce the proud Arabs so that Palestine can be restored to the Jews partly or wholly as their national home......."

                                                                                                                               Mahatma Gandhi

As I write, Gaza is still being bombed, and its citizens face tragedy at the hands of a state that has dehumanized itself, with support from influential figures like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Surprisingly, New Delhi has seen no protests against Israeli war crimes. The situation worsens each decade, with no moral, political, or military equality between the two sides.

Israel, backed by the U.S. and armed with nuclear capabilities, faces no existential threat. On the contrary, it's the Palestinians enduring a constant assault on their lands and lives. Resisting this oppression is crucial through any means. Will Western civilization stand by as the indirect victims of the Judeocide are gradually exterminated or expelled from their homes? In recent years, a new catastrophe (nakba in Arabic) has unfolded, defining the essence of this ongoing dispute.

The right-wing government in Israel, including some extreme figures, is using threatening language and carrying out aggressive actions. They consistently blame the victims for war crimes. The New York Times, previously known for misinformation about Iraq, continues similarly by supporting false claims about Palestinian groups bombing a hospital in Gaza. Fortunately, fewer people believe this propaganda, as shown by significant protests countering every falsehood.

The Israeli agenda seems to target as many Gazan Palestinians as possible. Northern Gaza is under Israeli control, while southern Gaza faces regular attacks to push people into Egypt. There are indications of plans to extend these actions to the West Bank. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at the U.N., the vision is for a single Israel, structured as an authoritarian apartheid state. This aligns with the long-standing desire of many Israeli leaders, regardless of political affiliations, such as Labour and Likud—the ultimate goal: Eretz Israel.

The IDF has been attacking and killing Palestinians for years. Some retired Generals admit it's shameful, but only after retiring. They support settler fascism, leading to the destruction of homes, olive plantations, and wells, displacing Palestinians. Western leaders stay quiet about these actions. 

The elected Palestinian leadership in Gaza decides to resist, making headlines and drawing attention back to their cause. They understand the expected vicious retaliation from the Far-Right Israeli government, supported by the U.S. and the European Union. The Palestinian response is a clear understanding of the potential blowback, with some elements in the Israeli government openly expressing intentions for mass killings, using dehumanizing language similar to how the Nazis referred to specific groups as "subhuman."

Do the oppressed Palestinians have a right to resist the non-stop aggression to which they are subjected? There can be only one answer: Yes. Subjugated people have long asserted their right to resist. 

One Day, Palestine will be free.....

Anjel Juman. P, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Al Shifa College of Arts and Science, Kizhattoor, Perinthalmanna