a day ago
The crucifixion of Gaza
Observing the devastation of Gaza today and the ordeal of its people, we cannot help but turn back to another people who were oppressed in the same region thousands of years ago by the Romans, and one of whom was nailed to a cross to die simply for seeking peace and understanding.
Today, the people of Gaza, who have already suffered far too much inhumanity, are suffering a crucifixion on an even larger scale. Tens of thousands of innocents have been killed, an entire territory, its homes, hospitals, and highways lie in rubble, and a desperate people starve out in the open. We are somehow reminded of how the Romans, who buried their greatness in madness, hatred, and oppression, gradually began to undermine their empire from within.
There is a straightforward way in which history seems to be repeating itself, as a people rising from the depths of oppression and genocide, seeking to build a country based on dignity, democracy, and hope, fall into the very trap of extremism, hatred, and rage against an oppressed people that was once aimed at them.
The tragedy of this event cannot be overstated, not only for the Gazans and all Palestinian people, but also for the Israeli people who sought to build a model for others by exemplifying tolerance, understanding, and decency. In their outburst of violence, though, they have inflamed the emotions of peace-loving people around the world, who are in no doubt about who the aggressor is. The violence and hatred Israel has been visiting upon Gaza and the Palestinian people is already undermining the foundations of a country built on universal values of humanity and decency. The world is no longer fooled.
The Middle East represents something very special to humanity, as not only the cradle of civilization but also the birthplace of the three great monotheisms and their messengers from God. Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad carried messages of peace, tolerance, and compassion from the heavens. Conveying those values to the world is a mission and a duty that has been placed upon our region and its people. We respond to these acts of hatred and violence by extending a hand of peace. If the Israelis are to become our neighbors truly, they must seize our hand and, with us, honor the message of our prophets.
Two thousand years ago, the crucifixion of a messenger of peace was not carried on live television or social media as the crucifixion of the people of Gaza is today. Thankfully, those people in the West, and particularly in the US, who had until very recently remained oblivious to the longstanding suffering of the Palestinian people, are now all too aware of the disregard and inhumanity with which Israelis are treating them. People are starving and dying in front of our eyes, victims of the limitless brutality of a regime perpetrating crimes against humanity every day.
We would all do well to recall history and understand that the oppression of people who seek only to live a decent and peaceful life will lead to rot not within those people but within their aggressors. Seeing just one, let alone tens of thousands of children, lose their lives, their limbs, or become orphaned, is too much for anyone to handle. The world is saying 'enough' and asking us all to wake up before peace itself is crucified in this deathly horror. The prophets of the Middle East consistently carried a message of peace and dignity, particularly for the poorest and weakest among us. Let us all remind those committing, justifying, or even just standing by such aggression that the world rewards those who deal in dignity and decency, not those who deal in death and destruction.
• Hassan bin Youssef Yassin worked closely with Saudi Arabia's petroleum ministers Abdullah Tariki and Ahmed Zaki Yamani from 1959-1967. He led the Saudi Information Office in Washington from 1972-1981 and served with the Arab League's observer delegation to the UN from 1981-1983.
