If 10/7 was Israel’s 9/11, as many of the country’s leaders have said, the comparison’s meaning is not immediately clear. However, its implications are still being explored and may lead to unexpected outcomes.
While the horror is comparable, the scale is not. Hamas’s brutal massacre of over 1,000 civilians on Saturday is disproportionate to Israel’s population. To put it into perspective, a proportionate number of casualties in the United States on 9/11 would have been close to 40,000. Unlike al-Qaeda, a transnational group confined to specific regions, Hamas poses a direct threat to Israel’s existence. This threat is not only outlined in their founding manifesto and subsequent statements but also evidenced by their alliances with Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran. With these facts, it becomes clear that the analogy holds little value beyond a historical comparison.
Nevertheless, there is something that resonates with Israelis when they think back to September 11, 2001. The facts may differ, but the emotions remain the same: profound shock, unbearable grief, humiliation, rage, and solidarity. Israelis, like Americans, experienced a sense of shock as they had never witnessed such a horrific event before, even within their conflict-ridden history. Just like the George W. Bush administration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government seemed to overlook warning signs of an impending attack, possibly due to a failure of imagination. However, there was also a remarkable display of solidarity among ordinary Israelis who came together to help and console one another without waiting for official directives. Unfortunately, this unity was short-lived, but its memory serves as a reminder of the detrimental impact of the stupidity and tribalism in Israeli politics and beyond.
President Joe Biden stated, “Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israel’s back,” pledging unwavering support. However, Biden also made it clear that terrorists deliberately target civilians, while democratic countries like the US uphold the laws of war and strive to minimize civilian casualties. This served as both a warning and a flattery—urging Israel to exercise restraint and avoid unnecessary harm. NBC News later reported that Biden had directly urged the Israeli military to take precautions to prevent civilian casualties.
Simultaneously, Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, announced the removal of all restraints for the troops amassing at the Gaza border. While addressing the troops, Gallant expressed rage at the heinous crimes committed against children, women, and elderly Holocaust survivors. He ordered a complete siege of Gaza, encompassing the deprivation of fuel, power, water, and food. He declared that Israel would fight these “human animals” accordingly. Palestinian and international sources reported that by Wednesday, over 1,000 people in Gaza, primarily civilians including whole families, had lost their lives due to airstrikes.
After 9/11, Israeli sentiments essentially communicated to Americans, “Now you know.” However, most Americans were ignorant and had to learn through years of painful experiences. If Americans have any useful advice for Israelis now, it would be: don’t follow that same path. Though it’s important to express justified anger, it is crucial to think rationally and prioritize avoiding civilian casualties, as doing so serves Israel’s self-interest. Storming into Gaza without a clear plan for the aftermath is unwise. Overwhelming military force cannot resolve such a complex historical and political issue. It’s important not to overlook or exacerbate Palestinian grievances in the West Bank, even if voiced by those who celebrated Israeli deaths.
Israel’s national unity should not be poisoned by leveraging this crisis for partisan advantage; the unity government is a positive sign. Israel must not squander its current global legitimacy, nor assume that international support will persist if there are reports of mass civilian casualties in Gaza. It is crucial that democratic countries, which can distinguish between Israel and Hamas, express their outrage. Just as their support mattered during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, such solidarity matters to Israel. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine extended his support to Israel, highlighting that it was crucial not to be alone. Recognizing that Russia, Iran, and Hamas will side with each other, Israel and Ukraine must stand together.
While America should stand by its ally Israel, it is essential to convey uncomfortable truths. The events on Saturday make it clear that two seemingly contradictory things must be accepted simultaneously: a group seeking Israel’s destruction must be dealt with, and Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories only strengthens that group’s cause. It is impossible for Israel to live in peace with Palestinians who refuse to acknowledge its right to exist, just as it is impossible for Palestinians to accept a fate of perpetual subordination. Addressing these challenges will require significant changes from both sides. However, the current Israeli government lacks the capacity and will for such change, and the Palestinian government on the West Bank, hampered by corruption and Israeli dominance, is equally ineffective. Perhaps, amidst this tragedy, better alternatives will emerge.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
