BENJAMIN Netanyahu is the first Israeli prime minister to be born in the country. He was an economic consultant at the Boston Consulting Group.

He said: “Israel didn’t start this war but will finish it”.

He said Israel will get to the bottom of what happened on October 7.

I would strongly urge that he get to the bottom of the Balfour Declaration and the atrocities that have been committed since 1948.

Netanyahu has so far refused to take responsibility for the black day. He also has not taken questions from reporters or given interviews.

There have been reports of disagreement among the highest echelons over the planned ground incursion. Let us see which world leader will support the incursion.

He also said: “Our war against Hamas is a test for all of humanity. It is a fight between the Iran-Hezbollah-Hamas axis of evil and the forces of freedom and progress. Light will defeat darkness.”

On humanity, Gaza is already strangled by 16 years of blockade. It now lacks water, power, sanitation, medicine, food, and other basic necessities.

On human rights, the rights of one group do not take precedent over the other.

UN rights experts have sounded the alarm that Israel’s campaign has resulted in crimes against humanity in Gaza and that the Palestinians face genocide. Israel’s oppressive and discriminatory governance of the Palestinians constitute a system of apartheid.

Israel has violated many international laws, including UN resolutions and the Laws of War and Occupation as stated in the Fourth Geneva Convention. Israel has violated 28 resolutions of the UN Security Council (UNSC) which are legally binding on member nations.

The first step Israel must take us an immediate ceasefire.

The UNSC vetoed four draft resolutions regarding the situation in Gaza within 10 days. Last week, two drafts proposed by Brazil and Russia were rejected because there was no condemnation of Hamas.

The new resolution from the US was ambiguous on a call for ceasefire. While insisting on condemnation of Hamas in other resolutions, US conveniently left out condemnation of arbitrary attacks on civilians in Gaza.

According to a International Court of Justice advisory, Israel does not have the right to defend itself within the occupied Palestinian Territory in response to military attacks.

Where is justice, conscience and rule of law?

Netanyahu, you can carry out your plans as you had clearly made your stand in 2005 by resigning over disagreements on Israeli disengagement from Gaza. Eight thousand Jewish settlers from 21 settlements in Gaza were relocated and each family received more than US$200,000 in compensation.

Today, Israel keeps direct control over Gaza’s air and maritime space, six of Gaza’s seven land crossings, maintains a no-go buffer zone, and controls the Palestinian population registry. Gaza remains dependent on Israel for water, electricity, telecommunications, and other utilities.

In Judaism, God values justice, mercy and cares about all humanity. 

Netanyahu, in carrying out your ground incursion, please spare a thought for the innocent Palestinian civilians who have suffered for a long time. Your experience as an economic consultant in Boston Consulting Group will come in handy.

What say you… – October 27, 2023.

* Saleh Mohammed reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.