Phalapoem editor, 22/01/2025
The Israeli occupation of Palestine has been capturing global attention and sparking fierce debates for decades. The violence, suffering, and destruction associated with the occupation have led many to question which side bears greater responsibility for the ongoing turmoil. Is the Palestinian resistance, the greater evil? Or is the Israeli occupation, widely condemned as a violation of international law and human rights, the root of the issue? To answer this question, we must delve into the historical, legal, and moral dimensions of both.
The Israeli Occupation: A Violation of Rights
The illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, began in 1967 following the Six-Day War. Since then, Israel has implemented policies that have been widely criticized by human rights organizations, including land confiscation, settlement expansion, dehumanisation, humiliation, torture, rape and the restriction of Palestinians’ movement.
The expansion of Israeli settlements is a blatant violation of international law under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Despite global condemnation, over 700,000 Israeli settlers now illegally live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, displacing Palestinians and further diminishing their access to land and resources. The occupation also brings with it daily military raids, arbitrary arrests, and home demolitions, creating a climate of terror, fear and humiliation for millions of Palestinians.
In Gaza, the situation is even more dire. The 17-year blockade imposed by Israel has turned the territory into an open-air prison for its two million residents. With restricted access to basic necessities like clean water, electricity, and medical supplies, civilians endured starvation and humanitarian disaster. According to the United Nations, Gaza could become unlivable if the blockade and genocide persist.
The Palestinian Resistance: A Response to Occupation
The Palestinian resistance has taken many forms, from peaceful protests and international advocacy to armed struggle. Some resilience groups have carried out attacks against Israeli civilians. These actions have drawn condemnation for their indiscriminate nature.
While such acts of violence are inexcusable, it is crucial to understand their context. The Palestinian resistance emerged as a reaction to the Israeli occupation and the systemic denial of Palestinian rights. When a population is subjected to decades of displacement, oppression, and humiliation, resistance becomes a natural, albeit tragic, response.
Many Palestinians argue that their resistance is a fight for self-determination, a right enshrined in international law. Peaceful protests have often been met with excessive force by Israeli security forces, leading to injuries and deaths, further fueling anger and despair.
The Root Cause of the Conflict
To assess which is worse—the Palestinian resistance or the Israeli occupation—we must examine the root cause of the conflict. The Israeli occupation is not just a backdrop to Palestinian resistance; it is the primary driver of it. Decades of land theft, systemic oppression, and the denial of a viable Palestinian state have created a situation where resistance is inevitable.
While acts of violence by Palestinian factions are reprehensible, they cannot be divorced from the context of occupation. An occupied people fighting for their freedom, even through morally questionable means, cannot be equated with a state systematically oppressing millions of people.
The Moral and Legal Perspective
From a moral and legal standpoint, the Israeli occupation is far worse than the Palestinian resistance. The Israeli occupation violates all international laws and deprives an entire population of their basic human rights. It is a state-sponsored system of apartheid, control and dispossession that perpetuates cycles of violence and despair.
The Palestinian resistance, while often criticized for its methods, is a reaction to the occupation. Ending the occupation would address the root cause of the violence and pave the way for a lasting solution.
The question of “which is worse” should not distract from the urgent need to resolve the conflict. Both Palestinians and Israelis deserve peace, security, and dignity. For that to happen, the Israeli apartheid and occupation must end, and both sides must engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiation. The international community has a critical role to play in holding Israel accountable for its war crimes and violations of international law while supporting Palestinian efforts to achieve self-freedom, and determination through peaceful means.
In the end, peace will only be possible when justice is served, and the root causes of the conflict are addressed. Until then, the cycle of violence and suffering will continue, with neither side emerging as a true victor.
