The tragedy of Gaza and Indigenous People's Day

I am listening to the English broadcast of Al-Jazeera as I write this morning, heartbroken over the war which has broken out in Israel.  I say "in Israel" because Israel has been waging war against Gaza for decades,

I am struck by the contrast of the New Testament instruction that "if your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20) and the Israeli government cutting off food, water, electricity and supplies from the people of Gaza. It is not right.  What Israel is doing right now is indiscriminate bombing which is tantamount to war crimes.

In our country, today is what some call "Columbus Day."  Many of us prefer to acknowledge this day as "Indigenous People's Day" because of the cruel, brutal portrait of Christopher Columbus which we now know to be accurate.  I happen to live in Columbus, Indiana.  It would not bother me if this wonderful place where I have lived for 21 years now would change its name.

There are some points of irony, of glaring inconsistency, which come to my mind on this infamous day in light of what is now going on in Israel and Gaza.

1.  It is not lost on me that, at the same time our country is simultaneously supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russian occupation, and supporting Israel as it wages war on Gaza.  In one case, the United States is supporting those resisting occupation,  and in the other case, the US is supporting the occupiers.  Ukranian president Zelenskyy has expressed support for Israel.  I find it offensive that a president of a nation resisting occupation voices support for occupiers.

2.  I think those of us who prefer the designation of Indigenous People's Day over Columbus Day also need to be aware of an inconsistency which could pop up in our own thinking.  The plight of the Palestinian people for the past 56 years is not unlike that of the Indigenous People of North America.  The tragedy of Gaza, where in an area the size of Detroit, MI, four times as  many people of Detroit are forced to live, and an awareness of Detroit's many problems, this should concern us all.  Gaza is like a concentration camp.  There is no moral justification for that.  If we think of ourselves as enlightened enough to celebrate Indigenous People's Day, but we are not supporting Gaza, we are hypocrites.

I believe the United States government should, as a condition for any aid to Israel, military or otherwise, insist on the end of the occupation and full right of  return for the Palestinian people.  The settlements must be disbanded and that land and those homes given to the Palestinian people.  There can be no peace until there is justice.  I believe the plight of the Palestinian people to be akin to the trail of tears.  The government of Israel--not the people, but the government--by what they have done for 56 years--is a state sponsor of terror.   European governments are freezing aid to the people of Palestine.  I think this makes them accomplices to human rights violations.