Between Gaza and Dresden
Al-Ahram, Egypt, January 4
Israeli military leaders consistently defend their aggressive bombing and destruction in Gaza under the pretext that Palestinian resistance forces use homes, schools, and buildings as hideouts. However, history has taught us that cities have been laid to waste without any justification. The terror and destroying entire cities into rubble is to inflict maximum casualties, sow terror, and instill fear among innocent civilians. Throughout the 20th century, generals and politicians alike have exhibited an unhealthy obsession with destruction, leaving cities of all sizes in ruins. From Warsaw to Manila, Hiroshima to Nagasaki, Grozny to Aleppo, and Port Said to Gaza, the list is long. Yet, amidst this destructiveness, one city serves as a haunting reminder of the disregard for values that Western civilization often claims to uphold. Dresden, Germany, stands tall as an eyewitness to how Western nations, who purportedly champion the worth of each individual and extol human, architectural, and artistic beauty, were not hesitant to abandon those values. At precisely 10:10 pm on February 14, 1945, the British Royal Air Force initiated an unparalleled bombing campaign targeting one of Europe’s most exquisite cities. This city possessed neither military nor civilian importance. Germany was already on the verge of surrender, so why subject Dresden to such horrifying bombardment, which the United States also joined? The Yalta Conference was in the offing, where Germany would be divided post-defeat. Undoubtedly, Churchill desired to showcase his country’s might and bolster its standing among the principal participants in the negotiations. Despite numerous warnings from his own advisers that Dresden held no strategic importance, Churchill remained resolute, resulting in the deaths of 100,000 innocent lives in a mere four hours. Shockingly, despite this egregious crime, both the British and Americans hailed Churchill as a hero and an exemplar of Western leadership. His images and statues adorned countless cities, including the White House. Yet, many historians have accused him of being a war criminal and an agent of genocide. Alas, this demonstrates that history is often dictated by the victors, who adorn their deeds with heroic undertones while obscuring their crimes. Unfortunately, the aggression against Gaza currently unfolds similarly. Israeli leaders veil their heinous acts with a facade of false morality and civilization, receiving unwavering support from Western politicians and political pundits. We witness schools, homes, and hospitals repeatedly bombarded, with the lifeless bodies of children paraded before the eyes of the world. And yet, the Western world offers nothing but superficial remorse, urging Israel to exercise “restraint.” It would therefore come as no surprise if Israel’s criminal military figures transform into celebrated heroes within the annals of Western history. —Abdullah Abdul Salam (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)
