Skip to main content

Why there's no justification for Hamas attack on Israeli civilians: Osama letter explained

By Bharat Dogra* 

Whenever highly unjust violence is unleashed on some people, there can be calls for revenge violence. However, as the big ones responsible for the initial violence may be beyond the reach of the victims, it is quite possible that they end up targeting those who are easier to attack, in the process perhaps killing entirely innocent persons. This can lead to a cycle of indiscriminate violence in which many innocent lives will be lost.
Those Hamas attackers who attacked Israel recently are likely to have been motivated by the anguish of many Palestinians who were innocent victims of Israeli aggressions on many occasions, but did this anguish become any less when they killed several Israeli civilians? Who knows, those killed may have included those who strongly desire a more just policy toward Palestine. Did this action of Hamas increase the number of such persons, or did it decrease this?
What is more, this led to such a disproportionate and cruel response from the Israeli government that already about 11,000 Palestinians have been killed. Will this lead to future indiscriminate attacks on the people of Israel? Where and when this cycle of indiscriminate violence and revenge stop? The bigger danger is that this can lead to a wider war which can lead to death, injury and displacement on a much bigger scale.
In the middle of all the violence of recent times there has been a revival of interest in an old document promoting revenge which was becoming so popular with several readers that some newspapers removed it from their website.
This is a document released by Osama bin Laden titled ‘Letter to America’ in 2002. In this letter Osama bin Laden has stated that highly unjust policies and actions of the USA and some of its allies have caused immense distress to Muslims (as well as some others) and Muslims should unite with courage to oppose this.
However this letter also goes much beyond this and justifies attacks on USA civilians saying that they vote to elect the government. This is clearly wrong and all citizens who exercise their voting rights cannot be said to be complicit in violence. Such instigation can lead to the targeting of many innocent people.
In addition this letter targets many sections of people as indulging in immoral activity, including those who practice homosexuality or sexual promiscuity, or those who consume or trade intoxicants, or those who charge interest payments. Women are subjected to more strict surveillance and some of their occupations are frowned upon.
Only one religion is proclaimed as supreme, while others (those belonging to other religions and atheists) are described as non-believers hostility against whom can be justified. In such a worldview millions and millions of people are considered undesirable on the basis of those preferences which belong to their personal world .All these undesirable persons can evoke the hostility of believers, according to this document.
This is just one example of endless violent possibilities of an agenda which is based on violent, indiscriminate revenge, set against an ideological background of sectarianism and irrationality. If the violence of imperialism is to be fought on the basis of such an agenda, then the world will be destroyed by endless cycles of indiscriminate and irrational violence.
There is urgent need at world level of a broad-based peace movement which can intervene to prevent such cyclical violence and instead provide a response based on justice based peace.
It is an example of endless violent possibilities of an agenda which is based on indiscriminate revenge, set on sectarianism 
If such channels of a peaceful response do not exist, then it may be difficult to prevent a response based on indiscriminate violence and revenge. In addition it is the task of the peace movement to work with more continuity for strengthening the desire and possibilities of peace, with practical solutions discussed at the level of common people (not just leaders) and slowly gaining strength.
This is where the courage and commitment of people particularly youth should be channelized (and not into seeking indiscriminate revenge) and only then we can be hopeful that the new generation at least will be able to live in conditions of peace with justice.
The ideas that one religion is superior to others, or that those belonging to other religions and other sects, or atheist persons, are inferior are completely out of place in a world that needs peace based on equal respect for all faiths.
Such ideas are often at the back of those who get hooked by sectarian and violent forces, and therefore it is important to expose the futility of such ideas in the present day world which needs inter-faith harmony more than ever before so that people of different faiths (as well as atheists, or those who do not attach much importance to religious identity) can work together in peace and with solidarity for several good causes, such as environment protection, which are important for all.
While this is true for all places, this is all the more important for places like the Palestine-Israel region where people have already suffered much due to indiscriminate violence and inter-faith discords. Commitment to inter-faith harmony and a belief in people of different faiths living together peacefully should be at the heart of desiring and creating a better future for the people here, particularly the young generation.
---
*Honorary convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include “When the Two Streams Met”, “Man over Machine”, “Earth without Borders” and “A Day in 2071”

Comments

TRENDING

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani*  India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor*  Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Four J&K MLAs visit Wular lake, pledge support to fisher community, environmental conservation

By Shamim Ahmed*   In a historic meeting that highlighted both environmental and social concerns, four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) visited Wular Lake to meet with the fisherfolk community, signaling a significant step in addressing their longstanding issues. This gathering, organized with the support of dedicated advocates, marks a strengthening of efforts to both safeguard the lake’s ecosystem and support the community’s welfare.

Supreme Court’s dismissal of PIL on Covid vaccine safety is counter to known science and mathematics

By Bhaskaran Raman*  On 14 Oct 2024, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the side-effects of the Covid vaccine. In 2021, the world saw the rollout of various Covid vaccine candidates. In India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield were rolled out. Covishield was nothing but Oxford’s AstraZeneca relabelled in India. The importance of open-minded and scientific probe of Covid vaccine safety In 2020/2021, all Covid vaccines were authorized for emergency use, which meant that the necessary efficacy and safety follow-up was incomplete at that time. The originally approved trials – called randomised controlled trials (RCT) had a “vaccine” group and a “placebo” group for comparison. Such experimental comparison/control is the cornerstone of the scientific method – which even children learn in photosynthesis experiments in class-1. The vaccine trials were scheduled to conclude in late 2022/early 2023. For instance, Covax...

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.