Crime against Palestinians

There was no lawful justification for firing indiscriminately on unarmed civilians, mostly children killing more than 40 Palestinians, demonstrating against Israeli military demolition of the Rafah refugee camp.

The mass demolition of homes in Rafah constitute a war crime. The collective punishment of hundreds of innocent civilians who have been left utterly destitute is a cruel and unjustified operation.

Can an Israeli ever imagine what it feels like to have a bulldozer emerging in the middle of the night and destroying everything a family possesses, as they and their children watch. Do the decision makers in Israel take into account the hatred they are sowing in the heart of the children who witnessed the destruction of their homes and family. And what will be the fate of these wretched people, people who even before their houses were razed were doomed to a sordid life in one of the poorest refugee camps? Where will they find shelter from the bitter cold night?

A country itself becomes a terrorist state when it claims that demolishing homes of innocent civilians is to root out terrorism. Israel will have to explain the difference between the violence it is perpetrating and the violence perpetrated by the other side. One cannot blame the Palestinians for not succeeding in stopping the suicide bombers in this state of affairs. The next suicide bomber may emerge from the ruins of the homes in Rafah.