I propose Israel stop the weapons embargo on Gaza, allowing Gazans to arm themselves. The embargo obviously doesn’t work for keeping weapons from Hamas. It does, however, make the honest people of Gaza totally powerless to resist their dictators.

[+] capital@lemmy.world -7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It does, however, make the honest people of Gaza totally powerless to resist their dictators.

Almost three in four Palestinians believe the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel was correct, and the ensuing Gaza war has lifted support for the Islamist group both there and in the West Bank, a survey from a respected Palestinian polling institute found.

[–] MyEdgyAlt@sh.itjust.works 10 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Have you ever wondered what those people might have experienced that would lead them to hate Israel so much?

[+] capital@lemmy.world -9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That's a different point, isn't it? The comment above seems to suggest that Hamas doesn't have support from the vast majority of Palestinians. In reality, if they had weapons, it appears they might use them the exact same way Hamas did.

I was directly replying to that point.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 9 months ago

So only 30% of Gazans don’t support what Hamas is doing? Gee I wonder what would happen if 30% of a country rose up against its dictators.

Much tinier percentages of people have overthrown dictators.

If those 70% want to pick up weapons to attack Israel, then at a bare minimum it would mean less injustice in the Israeli bombings. (still massive injustice even if only 30% in an area are non-combatants don’t get me wrong).

Gazans are being held, in a de facto sense, responsible for the actions of Hamas, in the sense they are feelings the attacks meant for Hamas.

But without the opportunity to bear arms, Gazans cannot, in any circumstance, be actually ethically responsible. They are being actively prevented from taking a stance of responsibility because they are actively prevented from having any power.

Weapons are power. Without power they can have no responsibility. And yet they are being held responsible by Israeli weapons. It is unjust.

Gazans should have the opportunity to throw off their dictators. If they take that opportunity, and instead use it to join those dictators, so be it. They can feel the consequences of that. They already are.

The blockade of weapons prevents this situation from resolving in a just way.