Arab World: “Why the Children of Gaza Don't Deserve to Die?”

As the death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza climbs, bloggers from around the Arab world share their thoughts on Palestine, Arab nationalism and why the children of Gaza don't deserve to die.

We kick off this round up with a post by Neurotic Iraqi Wife, who is currently in Abu Dhabi and who shares this conversation she had with her husband who is in Iraq:

I asked him about the sentiments there of whats going on in Gaza. “The Iraqis here can care less” He said. Although I did see on the news some protests were held there due to the Israeli offensive, I doubt that the average Iraqi is moved by all this. They have their own problems to deal with.

At a gathering of relatives and friends, Neurotica shares the following conversation:

As we sat down chitchatting, a few mobile phones beeped simultaneously. “Please donate to Gaza at such and such banks” One of the ladies read the message out loud. She then threw her phone in dismay at the table. “Why should I care about Gaza” She said “While my own country is suffering. What did the Palestinians do for us Iraqis when my people were getting killed by the hundreds” She continued. “Let them go to hell”

She also states her feelings on the Palestinian issue and Arab nationalism, saying:

To be honest the Palestinian cause was never something of a priority to me or my family. Ever since I was a child I knew of their war, of their suffering, but it was Iraq that I yearned for and not Palestine. Afterall it is Iraq that I was born in. Its Iraqi blood that I have running through my veins. And umm I dont believe in the so called “Arab Nationalism” shit. Anyone who says THEY are, are to me nothing but a bunch of hypocrites and liars.

From Saudi Arabia, blogger Raed posts a video on YouTube entitled: Why the children of Gaza don't deserve to be killed?

In the following video he interviews young men from all walks of life in Saudi Arabia who give us 18 reasons why the children of Gaza should be allowed to live:

Meanwhile, Jordanian Ali Dahmash reflects:

It seems cutting Palestinian kids into bits and pieces, making them orphanages, homeless, school less, with no healthcare, no education, no future and no hope was not enough. So Israel decided to use White Phosphorus bombs on civilians. It seems Palestinian children are some kind of Aliens who dropped from the sky and when they are dead or have lost legs and arms, have the capability to grow their limbs back and stay alive. Therefore, Israeli army leaders thought, what the heck, let's burn them alive!

And finally in Syria, News from Syria lists the casualties from the Gaza war and compares them with that of the Lebanon-Israel war of 2006:

952 Palestinians killed (one-third children, at least half civilians), 4200 injured – in 18 days.
13 Israelis killed (3 civilians, most of the soldiers killed by their own side).
And that is in 18 days.

Compare that with the war on Lebanon in 2006:

1191 Lebanese and Palestinians killed, 4409 injured.
162 Israelis killed.
That was in 33 days.

The blogger adds:

So, in half the time Israel has killed almost the same number of Arabs. But it has brought the Israeli casualty figure close to zero.

Now part of that is down to two things: Gaza is the most populated place on earth – Arab casualty figures will be higher here than in Lebanon. And Hizbollah rockets are more powerful than Hamas ones – so Israeli casualty figures will be lower near Gaza than near the Lebanese border.

But what it also shows is that Israel has – as it promised – been concentrating on avoiding civilian casualties. Israeli civilians. But the cost has been high for Gaza – huge numbers of Palestinians have died as Israel uses massive air power to kill without getting their hands dirty.

And that makes war cheap for Israel.

12 comments

  • […] rockets at the US… Lies Jeffrey Goldberg Told Me (About Gaza) Seeking security for Israel “Why the Children of Gaza Don’t Deserve to Die?” Palestine: “Tell me, please God, tell me this is going to end soon” Palestine: Sameh Habeeb […]

  • Mushtary

    Can anybody tell me the sıte where ı can get ınformatıon on how to adopt any chıld from Gaza

    Thanks

  • Lee

    During World War II, the British removed their children from the war zone. Is any humanitarian effort being made to get the children out of Gaza into neighboring countries?

  • wisconsin bum

    In most religions its an eye for an eye, how many israeli children died before israel took action, I never hear you midle easterns think of each other as life, that is your problems, all life matters. Realize that and the answer to you problem will easily be solved. Put you guns down, kill those who wont.

  • wisconsin bum

    you arabs ever hear of the suffering in africa? Been happening for a long time, the only for peace is to eliminate those who dont want it, the small groups of murders like hamas and militants are not your friends they have brought your pain and suffering on you, not isreal.

  • michelle

    No child deserves to die, they should be protected from all harm by their parents. A loving, responsible parent removes a child from any potential harm. when leaflets are sent advising of an imminnet attack, a parent’s responsibliy is to remove the child/ren to a safe/r place. And remove the child/ren from wher those with guns and armaments are hiding. A responisible parent stands in front of their child/ren, they put thier child/ren in front of a person with guns, responsible loving parents dont allow their child/ren to be used a protective decoys. So no, the children of Gaza do not deserve to die, they DO desreve the protection of adults.

  • michelle

    In addition to the five terrorists to be released, Israel has also agreed to return the bodies of 199 Hizbullah soldiers in exchange for the bodies of the Jewish soldiers.

    The ransom demanded by Hamas for the return of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit – the release of over 1,000 imprisoned Arab terrorists.

    Hamas are creating an equasion of 1000 Arabs for 1 Israeli. This equasion can ultimatley work against Hamas. If they demand to exchange 1000 Arabs for 1 Israeli, the equasion in reverse means that is it equitable for 1000 Arabs to be killed in Gaza for every 1 Israeli killed. This is very very scary.

  • Wade

    I truely feel for the children of Gaza. But I feel that Hamas is using mothers and children as a safe place to attack from. I have seen it in the west…they march on a protest and shove the kids up front, using them as a shield. It seem some people have no respect for thier children. They train them to strap bombs to themselves all in the name of a religion. It is deplorable how they have twisted the faith to represent death.
    I agree that Israel has made many mistakes create and should do more to foster peace within the area but they do have the right to not endure rocket attacks. Hamas is the ones that have decided to use thier children as shields and use the dead children as news. I feel for the families but it serves only to make me understand more that Hamas is nothing but terroists, thugs and evil people that murder children.

  • Steve

    Killing innocent people…Am I talking about jews or arabs. It works both ways, doesnt it.
    Its nice to finally see that Palestinians FINALLY have some respect for human life–when its their own being killed, its suddenly important. Take the same attitude with Hamas that you do with the Jews and the problem will be solved. Til then, let the killing in Gaza continue. Think of this invasion as one big suicide bomb. Senseless, violent, deadly. Afterall, suicide bombing is perfectly ok, isnt it.

  • Steve

    John Ging, the top U.N. official in Gaza, condemned the attack on Beit Lahiya that killed the two boys — the latest in a series of Israeli shellings that have struck U.N. installations.

    “The question that has to be asked is for all those children and all those innocent people who have been killed in this conflict. Were they war crimes? Were they war crimes that resulted in the deaths of the innocents during this conflict? That question has to be answered,” he said.

    One could replace the word “Gaza” with the word Israel,
    and also “Beit Lahiya” with any city in Israel. If you did that, would the “Arab” world have the same outrage of innocent people dying, as they do in Gaza?

    To put it in terms that “Arabs” can relate to, Truth is a double edged sword.
    If you’re going to kill innocent people on the other side, then dont whine when the other side kills your innocent people.

Cancel this reply

Join the conversation -> Lee

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.