Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s use of the term “collateral damage” has sparked outrage and debate. Netanyahu dismissed the UN’s accusation of war crimes as “hogwash,” despite the death toll now exceeding 11,000 Palestinians.
The Dehumanization of War
The use of the term “collateral damage” in this context is deeply troubling. It reduces the human cost of war to a mere side effect. But the people of Gaza are not faceless statistics. They are human beings, each with their own story, their own dreams, and their own fears. They are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. Not “collateral damage” – they are the human cost of conflict.
The Impact on Families
Families in Gaza are being torn apart by the conflict. Parents are losing children, children are losing parents. The psychological trauma of such loss is immense, and the physical destruction of homes and infrastructure only adds to the hardship.
A Plea for Compassion
It is important to remember that the people of Gaza are not just numbers on a page or images on a screen. They are people who were born there, who live there, and who are, for the most part, unable to leave. They deserve our compassion, not our indifference.
The Plight of the Hostages
Moreover, it’s not just the Palestinians who are suffering. There are also hostages whose lives may be destroyed as a result of the conflict. They, too, are human beings, not “collateral damage.”
A Call to Action
We must strive for a world where we no longer use terms like “collateral damage” to dehumanize the victims of war. Instead, let us recognize and affirm the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, regardless of where they were born or where they live. Because in the end, we are all part of the same human family.
Insiders View
In the face of such overwhelming tragedy, it can be easy to become numb to the numbers. But we must resist this temptation. We must remember that behind each statistic is a human being with their own story. We must remember that they are not “collateral damage,” but people whose lives have been irrevocably altered by conflict.
