NOVANEWS
Hagi El-Ad (l) and Samer Badawi discuss I$raHell recent military operation in Gaza. Staff photo D. Sprusansky
The New America Foundation invited +972 Magazine writer Samer Badawi and B’Tselem executive director Hagai El-Ad to its Washington, DC offices on Sept. 17 to discuss the aftermath of the Israeli military’s summer incursion into Gaza. The event, titled “Next Steps for the Israelis and Palestinians,” was moderated by New America senior fellow Leila Hilal.
Badawi opened the conversation by sharing the story of a 17-year-old from Jabalya refugee camp, located in the northeastern edge of the Gaza Strip. As the recent conflict worsened, the young man’s family—following IDF safety directives—fled their home near the Israeli border and moved to the western part of the camp for safety reasons. Shortly after their relocation, the young man was out getting water when Israeli artillery shells began raining down on his family’s residence. All of his immediate family members were killed. This story is emblematic of the suffering many Gazans have experienced, Badawi said.
Visiting Gaza City during the violence, Badawi said those he encountered refused to be intimidated by Israel. “There was an overwhelming sense of defiance on all quarters, among all populations that I conversed with,” he noted. Badawi also reported that Gazans place blame for the violence squarely on the Israelis. “At no time did I hear anyone say Hamas is to blame,” he said. People were willing, however, to question Hamas’ tactics and strategic thinking, he added.
While he personally disapproves of Hamas’ strategy of firing rockets toward Israeli cities, Badawi said it’s easy to understand why some residents of Gaza have resorted to such violence in the face of Israel’s dehumanizing siege and continuous assaults by the world’s fourth largest army.
Badawi also pointed out that most people in Gaza are aware that Hamas’ rockets rarely cause damage in Israel. Nonetheless, he said, many see firing rockets as the only way to gain the attention of the outside world, and many reason that it’s better to die resisting the Israeli siege than die a slow death under the status quo.
El-Ad lamented that Israel and its leaders will not be held accountable by the international community for its actions during “Operation Protective Edge.” As was the case following 2009’s “Operation Cast Lead,” he noted, the Israeli military is currently conducting an internal review into its actions this summer.
With no independent arbiter involved, El-Ad believes it’s highly unlikely the review will be anything more than a cover-up. “We’re seeing the same theater of the absurd being performed in front of our eyes once again,” he said. “This is not about establishing accountability, this is about providing a legal Iron Dome to the Israeli army from international intervention.”
Israel frequently dismisses international inquiries as witch-hunts, he noted. However, he pointed out, any review of the war would also investigate crimes committed by Hamas. If Israel is confident of its innocence, El-Ad said, it should have no hesitations about submitting to an international inquiry.
El-Ad expressed his fear that in the wake of ‘Operation Protective Edge,” everything will return to “normal.” This summer must be a game changer, he emphasized. He is also concerned about Israel’s response to the violence. Instead of changing its policies, he fears the country will simply work to change its public relations strategy.
