Murat Belge*
As we approach one week since the surprising attack by Hamas, we were wondering this weekend whether Israel would initiate a “ground operation.” Such an operation did not begin, and “weather conditions” were put forward as the reason for not starting it. Is it really so? It’s difficult to say for sure. On the other hand, even if such an operation does not begin, the conditions in Gaza are horrific enough. There is no reason to believe that the current Israeli government will abandon its determination to eradicate Gaza. The only factor that could stop Netanyahu would be another power exceeding his own, and under the current circumstances, such a possibility seems unlikely.
There is a significant “power imbalance” between the conflicting parties. What the events today will lead to in the long run remains unknown, but today, there is nothing to prevent the Israeli government from doing what it wants. Under these conditions, I can’t understand what Hamas aimed to achieve with this action. Now, in response to Israel’s decision to evacuate Gaza, Hamas is telling the people not to leave their homes. So, what will happen? The people will resist. When they resist, what will Israel do? Will it say, “The people are resisting, so let’s give up”? In this situation, Hamas is telling the people who are fighting to continue living, “Die.” So, a few thousand people may lose their lives during the “We’re not going” phase of the process.
Is this a strategy designed to show the world what a “monster” Israel is, by accepting so many casualties to influence international public opinion in favor of the Palestinian people? I don’t think so. If such a development were being considered, the killing of so many Israeli civilians would not be contemplated or planned. Hamas’s action will leave an impression on individuals sympathetic to the Palestinians, making them think, “If they had the power, they would behave like this; they would do these things.” This is why Biden can take a stance by sending an aircraft carrier. This is why America’s Secretary of State can start saying, “As a Jew…” Those who have taken a pro-Israel stance during this case, if they had any moral discomfort until now, are now relieved to be “proven right.”
This is undoubtedly not the right stance. We will certainly see and understand the suffering inflicted on the Jewish race by the world; but we are not applauding the Jews for crushing a poor people in this way because of it. Saying that it is unacceptable to those Jews who consider such behavior their right (from the “Netanyahu School”) is not equivalent to supporting anti-Semitism.
When Hamas carried out the attack, Netanyahu said, “This is a war.” He has been repeating the same statement since then. Is this action the beginning of a “war,” as he claims? In my opinion, no. We cannot call this the start of a “war.” War is a conflict that occurs between forces with somewhat equal, or at least institutionally similar, powers. What initiated this event, Hamas, is not an “army”; there is no “state” structure behind it. Under normal circumstances, yes, we can say that Hamas is waging a “war” (let’s call it a “guerrilla war”) against Israel. We can also say that Hamas has established itself in Gaza and is to some extent accepted by the local population. But all of this does not mean that what Israel is doing and planning to do in Gaza constitutes a “war.” Netanyahu prefers to call it a “war” because he has decided to take vengeance for the incident with “extraordinary” or “unusual” severity, not with “ordinary” means. His minister had already stated that Palestinians look like humans but are not. This provides a clue about what “punishment” will entail. Although we hear that it is expected that the Israeli army will adhere to the laws of war, what we hear from “official” voices does not always reflect the reality on the ground. In these conditions, it is not difficult to imagine that many individuals in the Israeli army cannot behave like largely emotionless machines carrying out a “duty.” Besides, emptying Gaza means emptying a region where two million people live on top of each other. While many of the people are trying to escape on their own (and it seems that Egypt, which also controls the only exit, does not welcome such a massive influx of Palestinian migrants), extremely challenging work must be done.
So, just as we felt when this new episode started, it is not possible to predict where the process will lead. As it has been said, this attack is not like previous attacks, so the response will not be like previous ones (there may be qualitative and quantitative differences). Therefore, making predictions becomes more difficult. One thing is certain: we do not expect developments that will bring a smile to one’s face. The actors we see on the stage are making determined gestures, but I do not believe they are thinking about where the consequences of their actions will lead, or that they are acting based on rational conclusions.
This article originally was published in Turkish in Birikim Magazine on on October 16, 2023 and translated into Turkish by Politurco.
*Murat Belge (born 16 March 1943) is a Turkish academic, translator, literary critic, columnist, civil rights activist, and occasional tour guide.
