A Christmas that denied Christ Jesus
COMMENT | Silent night, holy night…
All is calm, all is bright…
Except in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead. And many more would continue to die because of America’s veto power that has put a stop to the ceasefire.
While brightly lit trees and glittering decorations light up homes, US-made bombs ‘brighten’ up Gaza’s skyline.
As I write this, US President Joe Biden continues to make it difficult to conclude a UN ceasefire agreement.
Millions are protesting all over the world. The global anti-war movement is pressuring governments to intervene to stop the murder of Palestinians, including women and children. But the bombs are still raining on Gaza because the UN Security Council has become the toy of rich countries.
Israel continues to commit severe violations of international humanitarian law by restricting aid, targeting civilians and claiming that all acts of aggression are in self-defence against a territory it has occupied for 16 years.
Not only has Gaza become a graveyard but Israel’s collective punishment is tantamount to war crimes and genocide. But these are met with a deadly silence from the US, UK and much of Europe.
The international community’s double standards are alarming. Besieged Gaza has seen five wars since 2008. But investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into war crimes are slow-moving because of lukewarm political support and inadequate resources.
However, European ICC members were quick to call for investigations against Russia after the Ukrainian conflict.
COMMENT | Silent night, holy night…
All is calm, all is bright…
Except in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead. And many more would continue to die because of America’s veto power that has put a stop to the ceasefire.
While brightly lit trees and glittering decorations light up homes, US-made bombs ‘brighten’ up Gaza’s skyline.
As I write this, US President Joe Biden continues to make it difficult to conclude a UN ceasefire agreement.
Millions are protesting all over the world. The global anti-war movement is pressuring governments to intervene to stop the murder of Palestinians, including women and children. But the bombs are still raining on Gaza because the UN Security Council has become the toy of rich countries.
Israel continues to commit severe violations of international humanitarian law by restricting aid, targeting civilians and claiming that all acts of aggression are in self-defence against a territory it has occupied for 16 years.
Not only has Gaza become a graveyard but Israel’s collective punishment is tantamount to war crimes and genocide. But these are met with a deadly silence from the US, UK and much of Europe.
The international community’s double standards are alarming. Besieged Gaza has seen five wars since 2008. But investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into war crimes are slow-moving because of lukewarm political support and inadequate resources.
However, European ICC members were quick to call for investigations against Russia after the Ukrainian conflict.
International humanitarian law has done little to stop the ongoing massacre in Gaza. And the overwhelming support from the UN General Assembly for a ceasefire was cut short by Biden’s administration.
Clearly, some Western and EU member states are calling the shots. They determine who deserves to be saved.
This has to change.
Time to band together
We need a permanent ceasefire to stop the senseless killings of Palestinians in Gaza. In other words, we need to re-think the allocation of power within organisations such as the UN and especially the composition of the Security Council, which is dominated by Western states.
It is time for the Global South to band together with one voice to challenge the US and other Western/European states, whose tacit support for Israel will help airbrush Palestinians out of history.
We-you and me- also need to stand up and let our voices be heard just like when Jesus Christ spoke out about truth, justice and love.
Or we will be celebrating the death and destruction of Palestine and her people this Christmas.
CHARLES SANTIAGO is the former Klang MP.
The song by John Lennon is NOT religious - it is very relevant in today's tragedy unfolding in the Middle-East, where Israelis spitting at Christians is the least of the world's problems.
It is better for him not to return especially if he is clad in just the loincloth as portrayed in numerous churches and homes of believers. You wouldn't want to upset grandma would you?
ReplyDeleteYr kind of grandma, yes?
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