[The Editors' Verdict] There Is No Justification for War

Revenge Begets Revenge, Violence Begets Violence
Courage Is Needed to Engage in Dialogue

Hwang Junho, Head of International Team 1

Approximately 500 people died in the explosion at a civilian hospital (Al-Ahli Arab Hospital) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Arab countries have launched an anti-Israel front, calling it an Israeli "massacre" and "war crime." Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden, who urgently visited Israel on the 18th (local time), refuted the claims, saying, "It seems to be the act of the other side, not Israel." Some even question the news of the hospital bombing itself, claiming that the hospital parking lot was destroyed and the number of casualties was exaggerated.

The fact that Hamas, the Palestinian armed faction, invaded Israel raises the possibility of the Middle East war igniting, making the propaganda war over this incident significant. But what meaning does this have for those who lost their lives in this accident?

Hamas launched the invasion, unable to endure Israel's blockade policy and oppression of the Gaza Strip. It is their own war of independence. The problem lies in the surprise attack and the targeting of civilians. Western media reported that Hamas killed about 1,200 people out of Israel's approximately 10 million citizens on the first day of the invasion. Hamas carried out a horrific massacre, even beheading children. The justification for resistance against oppression disappeared, leaving only anger and victims.

Israel, determined to avenge the bloodshed, is no different. On the Palestinian side, news of civilian casualties caused by Israeli attacks is frequently heard. By the 19th, 3,700 Palestinians had died. Combining both sides, 5,000 people have lost their lives.

As casualties continue to be reported, the international community is moving. However, there is doubt as to whether this is truly for peace. A ceasefire proposal led by China and Russia was submitted to the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the 13th but reportedly failed due to opposition from permanent members such as the United States. SCMP reported that a humanitarian aid proposal led by Brazil also failed to pass due to U.S. opposition. The U.S. Mission to the UN criticized the aid proposal for not mentioning Israel's right to self-defense. Subsequently, President Joe Biden visited Israel and urged, "Do not repeat the mistakes made by the U.S. after the 9/11 terrorist attacks," and warned, "Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip would be a big mistake," but these statements lack sincerity.

There is no justification for war. Only the cold corpses of citizens who died from bullets whose origin is unknown remain. In war, who is right or wrong is like two sides of the same coin. Revenge leads to more revenge, and violence begets greater violence. We need to heed Pope Francis's words that "(the cause of war) is short-sighted, extremist, malicious, and aggressive nationalism that has triggered all kinds of conflicts."

What is needed is the courage to engage in dialogue. Carl von Clausewitz, a military expert of the Kingdom of Prussia who said, "War is merely the continuation of politics," pointed out in his book On War that "war is born from greed and arrogance, and what remains for us are tears, pain, blood, and other miserable things." What Israel, Hamas, or the international community should focus on are the blackened, dried eyes of children sitting hesitantly on the battlefield where shells fly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.