Worldwide hypocrisy over Israel’s right to safeguard against terrorism

In a world grappling with the ongoing menace of global terrorism, it is disheartening to observe the inconsistent outrage and condemnation when certain countries become targets. Israel, a nation persistently confronted with terrorism, once again finds itself defending its people. However, where is the international outcry? Where is the solidarity in supporting Israel’s inherent right to safeguard its citizens?

Let’s imagine a scenario: if a single rocket were to strike London, Paris, Berlin, or New York, the entire world would rise in solidarity, demanding justice, and swift action. Yet, the global response seems strikingly subdued when over a thousand rockets rain upon Israel, threatening its cities, families, homes, and innocent civilians. Even prominent human rights organizations and the United Nations, entities entrusted with protecting innocent lives, appear to divert their gaze.

Consider this: if your own city were under the onslaught of rocket fire, wouldn’t you desire your government and military to shield you? It is evident that Israel took action to safeguard its citizens in the face of terror. Last week, the Israeli Air Force hit more than 200 terror locations in Gaza that were connected to Islamic Jihad.

Contrary to what some media outlets may believe, Israel cannot be compared or equated to terrorists seeking to destroy civilian infrastructure. A recent incident exemplifies this: a strike was aborted when children were spotted in close proximity to the intended target. Evidently, Israel cares more about civilians in Gaza than the terrorist oppressors do. Islamic Jihad exploits innocent Palestinians as human shields while diverting funds intended for their welfare to construct terror tunnels and expand their malevolent networks. This exploitation has resulted in poverty and immense suffering among the residents of Gaza.

The international community’s response to the situation reveals a clear case of hypocrisy that cannot be overlooked. The world’s attention should be directed toward the actual perpetrators of this tragedy—the terrorist organizations holding Gaza hostage. Instead, some journalists have chosen to cover the recent events in a way that portrays Israel as the aggressor, conveniently ignoring the underlying causes of the conflict.

It is important to recognize that Israel’s actions are about self-defence, driven by the fundamental duty of every sovereign nation to protect its citizens. Moreover, Israel’s right to self-defence is not merely just an opinion; it is grounded in international law, particularly in the United Nations Charter, Article 51, which explicitly recognizes the inherent right of self-defence against armed attacks.

As a democratic nation, Israel has every right to a firm and measured response, primarily when actions against it are aimed at dismantling the civilian infrastructure and threatening innocent lives. To those questioning Israel’s motives, I urge you to try to reflect on the fear, anxiety, and constant threat that Israeli citizens have faced every day for the last 75 years. No sovereign nation should be expected to endure unprovoked attacks on its civilian population without measured retaliation against the aggressor.

At a time when Ukrainian cities are being destroyed by the brutal Putin’s regime and the threat of military conflict between China and the US over Taiwan is looming, it is crucial for nations that uphold the values of democracy, freedom, and the sanctity of human life to come together in unity, considering the well-being and prospects of future generations. We cannot allow selective condemnation and biased portrayals of events to cloud our judgment when dealing with the professed terrorists or the political systems that rely on authoritarian models of government with the rigid view of national sovereignty.