Israel's subjugation of Palestine

Since its inception, the United States of America has amassed a vast history of puppet states, political assassinations, and a slew of human rights violations. Whether it be for material gain or ideological supremacy, this country is wont to undermine the sovereignty of just about anyone that doesn't keep a nuclear weapon handy. 

Camel of Hardship (1973) by Sliman Mansour

Most notably, the state of Israel; having been historically used by the U.S. as a stake in Middle Eastern soil, have held the people of Palestine inside the Gaza Strip since 1948. When one David Ben-Gurion, along with 36 others, signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence, war broke out in Mandatory Palestine; resulting in Zionist forces conquering 78% of Palestine, and in turn deporting the Palestinian people into Gaza, where to this day they face daily oppression.  For example, according to +972 Magazine, Israel has launched air strikes on Gaza with help of an AI program known as Lavender, destroying homes, food, and medical supplies, as well as permitting the direct killings of civilians, the hallmark offenses constituting genocide.  

However, in the decades of famine and bloodshed wrought upon Palestine, militant groups such as Hamas have taken shape, garnering much criticism from the world stage. Nick Anderson, our Social Studies teacher who teaches a class called Political Violence, had much to say upon being asked about this particular topic: "There's this academic who I like, his name is Norman Finkelstein. He studies Israel and Palestine, most of his family was wiped out during the Holocaust. His statement on October 7th was celebration, he says 'I think you're supposed to cheer when people break out from a concentration camp'. That being said, I think any violence against innocent people is to be condemned.”

“That being said, I don't think there's any excuse for what Israel has done inside Gaza, which they've obliterated and killed tens of thousands of people. And I think the argument should be made that us as Americans need to care about this because we pay for it; That's the money we earn that'll be paying sales tax which will fund the genocide of other people, and I think every American should be upset about it." 

When inquiring about the same topic, a student had this to say: "I believe there's nothing wrong with Hamas trying to fight back, the fact that they've been oppressed and have been going through this genocide for years on end and nothing has happened; The people have to take matters into their own hands, and if that means getting violent then that's what its gonna have to be. It gets to that point, when you push people to the edge and they get tired they fight back. That's just what happens."  

All in all, the fact that such a large chunk of the world has been so willing to turn a blind eye to the atrocities Israel, and by extent the U.S. has committed is frankly appalling. And we as people should not let these crimes take place unimpeded.