Before the Bombs Dropped: An Inquest into the Roots of the Conflict in Gaza

Introduction.

"The Jewish people have a right to live in their own land, without fear, without apology."

— Benjamin Netanyahu ( Current Israeli Prime minister)

"October 7 was a horrific day in the history of Israel. It was the moment the truth could no longer be ignored or savagery tolerated.

Hamas militants launched rockets into and invaded Israeli communities. They butchered families and dragged civilians into captivity. 

Israel is blamed for defending itself — but the world ignores what triggered it. No nation would tolerate rockets raining down on its people. This is a battle for Jewish survival."

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“Israel was constructed on the ruins of another society and by the mass dispossession of another people who remain unacknowledged, as just sort of obscure natives in the background ‘— back to the desert, let them go to one of the other Arab countries.’ That’s been the position.” 

—Edward Said ( Late Palestinian Academic and Professor)

WCNSF. Wounded Child, No Surviving Family.

This acronym was coined at a point during the current war on Gaza. It is used by rescue workers when they find a child under the rubble — alive, but with no surviving family.

It captures, in one acronym, the enormity of Gaza’s loss. But the suffering didn’t begin with this war.

It began in 1948, with expulsion, occupation, and the slow erasure of a people. Entire generations have grown up under siege and bombardment.

We're subjected to relentless bombardment, confined under brutal oppression, and when we raise our voices, we're labeled as threats. 

The world witnesses our plight, watches as we're slaughtered, and when some of us fight back, we're branded as terrorists.. 

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These narratives above highlight the contrasting views of each side of the conflict. They both perceive suffering, injustice, and moral justification differently. 

This however presents a question for the objective mind—for the one who resists the pull of ideology or affiliations of any kind-—whose narrative holds more weight? 

 “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

— Elie Wiesel (Holocaust Survivor and Nobel Peace prize winner)

 “If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

— Malcolm X (Late American Civil Rights activist)

The Gaza conflict is perhaps one of the most documented and yet least understood crises of our time. For many, it begins and ends with the headlines: rockets, sirens, rubble, death.

But behind these headlines lies a long and often forgotten history (perhaps,even unknown).

And that oversight has left much of the the world with a deeply flawed understanding of the conflict, and an injustice to all those suffering.

We each connect to this conflict differently. 

For some, it's the sheer scale of destruction in Gaza. For others, it's religious affiliation. 

While some view the conflict solely through the lens of ideology or politics. Only a few have tried to look at the root causes objectively.

In simpler terms, you're either Pro-Israel or Pro-Palestine. But these labels often strip away the complexity and humanity of those affected.

Since October 7, 2023 — the date many see as the start of this "season" of war — I have closely followed events as they unfolded. But to say it began there is misleading. That misconception is itself part of the problem.

This war is not new. It is the consequence of decades of colonization, displacement, occupation, and survival politics. It is a long road that many never explore before forming opinions. It’s easier to choose a side than to investigate the roots.

In my quest to understand, I’ve read literature from different angles. I did not approach this to confirm my bias. I came to question it.

What I found was undeniable: Gaza today is a tragic product of decisions made long ago by men with power and pens.

This series is my humble attempt to trace that history, to go back in time so we can better understand where we are today. Understanding Gaza today requires knowing what came before. This journey will unpack what led up to today.

Yes, I have taken a side. And I believe Elie Wiesel’s words explain why: “We must always take sides…” But believe me, I write not to convert , but to clarify. 

And I do hope you stay with me until the very end.

Thank you….