Introduction
The US-backed Israel genocide of Palestine has surpassed all thresholds of dehumanization. The Israel-Palestine conflict has reached new heights with bombings and killings in Palestine that defy all bounds of humanity
And this genocide, apart from the fact that a whole people are going to be wiped out, highlights the US hypocrisy of claiming peace and acting in contradiction.
Age-Old Israel-Palestine Conflict
The decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict is rooted in competing claims to the Holy Land and includes disputes over borders, Jerusalem, security, and Palestinian refugees.
The Israel-Palestine conflict traces its origin to the late 19th century when Zionist aspirations for a Jewish homeland collided with Palestinian Arab resistance. The 1947 UN partition plan aimed to establish separate Jewish and Arab states, but Arab rejection led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, resulting in Israel’s establishment. In 1967, the Six-Day War saw Israel occupy East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. This occupation sparked ongoing tensions, marked by resistance, intifadas, and peace initiatives.
The Oslo Accords of the 1990s aimed at a two-state solution, but subsequent violence hindered progress. The early 2000s witnessed the Second Intifada, deepening animosity. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 fueled both hope and conflict. The 2008-2009 Gaza War and the 2014 Gaza conflict heightened hostilities, causing widespread suffering.
US-brokered peace talks intermittently resumed, yet settlements, security concerns, and the status of Jerusalem remained obstacles. The Trump administration’s 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital further strained efforts. In May 2021, tensions escalated in East Jerusalem, leading to the Israel-Gaza conflict, with rockets fired from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes. The situation highlights the enduring complexity, with historical grievances, territorial disputes, and competing national aspirations defying swift resolution.
The US Hypocrisy
The perception of US hypocrisy in advocating peace while engaging in or supporting violent conflicts can be traced through various historical and geopolitical contexts. Critics argue that despite the US positioning itself as a promoter of global peace, its actions in certain instances have contradicted this narrative.
Military Interventions:
The US has been involved in numerous military interventions, such as Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, often citing reasons like promoting democracy or countering terrorism. Critics argue that these interventions, at times, have led to unintended consequences, destabilizing regions and causing civilian casualties.
Arms Sales:
The US is a major arms exporter, providing weaponry to various countries, some of which have been involved in conflicts. Critics argue that this contributes to the perpetuation of violence and conflicts globally, contradicting the image of a peace advocate.
Support for Authoritarian Regimes:
Throughout the Cold War and beyond, the US has supported regimes that were criticized for human rights abuses and suppression of dissent if they aligned with American geopolitical interests. This has raised questions about the commitment to democratic values and human rights.
Double Standards in Foreign Policy:
Some argue that the US applies a double standard in its foreign policy, condemning certain nations for actions it overlooks in allies. This inconsistency erodes the credibility of its claims to champion global peace.
Role of the US in the Palestinian Genocide
The US government is failing to uphold its obligation to prevent genocide from happening. The US and Israeli diplomatic relations have been obvious in the way the US has always acted concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Even in 2017, the Trump Administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital further strained efforts. Today, in 2023 when a literal genocide, with the textbook definition of what a genocide is, is happening, the US is seen enabling it, let alone doing anything to prevent it.
The whole world is just sitting and watching from their screens as children, women, and men of Palestine die at the hands of a violent, monster-like cleansing of a whole race.
The US talks a little too much about peace and cooperation than the way it acts when things come to a literal genocide. The US is constantly supplying weapons and has even deployed its largest warfare ship to the aid of Israel. This only escalates the ongoing genocide.
Conclusion
The US is very much capable of putting a full stop to this. But it is constantly choosing not to. And that says a lot about the hypocrisy it is so much defined by and has always been, especially in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
-ADITYA SRIVASTAVA
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