OP ED | OPINION-EDITORIAL | No more eye for eye
A Palestinian man sits on the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes on Oct. 9, 2023, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. (Reuters/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)
Editorial board
The Jakarta Post
Versi Bahasa Indonesia We strongly condemn the killings of Israeli civilians that took place when Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Deluge in the early hours of Oct. 7, as well as Israeli’s retaliation, which claimed additional innocent lives. Both acts are equally unjustifiable by any internationally accepted norms. Neither side can call itself a winner. Both are losers.
Therefore, we call on Israel and Palestine to immediately stop the violence and return to diplomacy, however bleak the prospects may be. There is always the chance of a breakthrough.
Many rounds of negotiation have been held between the warring parties, but they were short-lived. Peace efforts should continue as long as possible for the good of the people.
Hamas might celebrate the attack on Israel, but the price was too high, as many people, including children, died because of the armed conflict. More lives will be lost as Israel now has justification for reprisal as it pursues for an eye for an eye.
More than 900 people have been killed in Israel, according to the Israeli military, while in Gaza the death toll has passed 680, according to the authorities. Thousands more have been wounded on both sides.
At least 150 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas fighters, according to an initial assessment. Officials from the United States and other countries, including Indonesia, are trying to verify whether their citizens are among the victims or captives.
Without any global intervention, the violence will spiral out of control only leading to further misery for the people in Gaza and Israel.
“The destruction in the Gaza Strip is horrifying. The international impunity granted to Israel is a moral, political and legal insult toward humanity and morality and international law principles. Any attempts to forgive and cover up the crimes are unacceptable and despicable,” the Palestine Embassy said in a statement on Monday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a total war on Hamas and will do whatever he deems necessary to punish the militant group. Known for his conservative mindset, Netanyahu seems to ignore the international criticism of his ferocity toward the Palestinians.
In response to the fresh outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestine, Indonesia has refrained from rebuking any party but expressed its deep concern for the escalation of the violence and urged for “the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties.” Indonesia is a constant supporter of Palestine’s independence, and the issue has been a priority of its foreign policy agenda from the very beginning.
“The root of the conflict is Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, which must be resolved following the parameters agreed upon by the United Nations,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Two of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, also shared their concern and called for an immediate ceasefire.
“The arms power [between the two sides] is imbalanced and will only worsen the suffering of the Palestinian people. A peaceful solution is much more preferred than continuous war,” NU said.
Muhammadiyah Secretary-General Abdul Mu’ti said,” The fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians is very worrying and threatens the security and safety of civilians. The future of peace in Palestine has become more uncertain.”
Indonesia has thrown its weight behind the two-state solution to end decades-long conflict in the Middle East, as stipulated in the Oslo Accords agreed upon by Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine leader Yasser Arafat 30 years ago.
Peace prospects have been elusive as Israel has expanded settlement areas in occupied Palestinian territory and isolated Palestinians who live in Gaza and the West Bank, forcing them to heavily depend on the generosity of the Israelis.
The religious doctrine of an eye for an eye should have no place in Middle East politics. Israel will never be able to win a real war against Palestine only with military and economic power. Similarly, the Palestinians must be ready to compromise and sincerely abandon any evil intention of erasing Israel from the map.
Jakarta
● Wed, October 11, 2023
