THEN
Auschwitz-Birkenau (Nazi Germany):
- Intent: Extermination of the Jewish people.
- Methods: Gas chambers, mass shootings, forced labor, medical experiments.
- Death toll: 1.1 million Jews in Auschwitz alone; 6 million total.
- Infrastructure: Built explicitly as a death factory.
Gaza (Modern Israel-Palestine Conflict):
- Intent: Israel states its goal is to stop terrorism, not exterminate a people.
- Civilian impact: Thousands of Palestinian civilians killed since 2008.
- Conditions: Severe blockade, high unemployment, limited medical access.
- Disputed: Some human rights groups have raised genocide concerns; Israel denies these.
PRESENT DAY
Al Jazeera
UN News
Al Jazeera1. The Holocaust and Israel’s Founding Trauma
Israel was born from the ashes of the Holocaust—a genocide where 6 million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany through shootings, starvation, forced labor, and industrial-scale extermination in gas chambers at camps like Auschwitz and Treblinka.
-
For Israelis, the Holocaust is not just history—it’s collective memory. It shaped Israel’s very identity and foreign policy: “Never Again” became both a personal and national vow.
-
Survivors helped build the early state. Their trauma infused Israel’s narrative with existential urgency and deep fear of annihilation.
-
This fear was reinforced by the Arab-Israeli wars, regional hostilities, and terrorist attacks.
2. Gaza Today: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
Gaza is a densely populated strip of land home to over 2 million Palestinians. It’s been under an Israeli blockade (and also blockaded by Egypt) since 2007, after Hamas seized power.
-
Frequent wars (2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2023) have left thousands of civilians dead, tens of thousands injured, and critical infrastructure in ruins.
-
Electricity, clean water, and healthcare are chronically under-resourced, largely due to the blockade and repeated bombing campaigns.
-
Israel’s justification: Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, uses civilian areas to launch rockets, hides arms in schools, and places military sites in densely populated areas.
-
Palestinian perspective: The siege and airstrikes punish civilians collectively and perpetuate despair.
3. Has Israel Forgotten the Holocaust?
This is a powerful question—and a controversial one.
-
Many Israelis and Jews around the world believe their country is acting in self-defense. From their viewpoint, Hamas and Hezbollah threaten Israel’s very survival—especially after brutal attacks like those of October 7, 2023, where over 1,000 Israelis were killed, including civilians.
-
Others, including many Jewish intellectuals and Holocaust survivors, argue that Israel has betrayed the lessons of its own suffering by collectively punishing Palestinians and violating international humanitarian law.
-
The phrase “Never Again” for some has morphed from “Never again to anyone” to “Never again to us”—shaping a security-first doctrine that, in their eyes, justifies disproportionate violence.
4. What’s Really Going On?
This is not a simple good vs. evil story. Here’s a snapshot of what fuels the ongoing conflict:
a. Hamas’ Role
-
Founded in 1987, Hamas is committed to armed resistance and does not recognize Israel.
-
It has carried out suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and hostage-taking.
-
Its ideology is rooted in Islamist nationalism; its actions often draw condemnation from much of the world.
b. Israel’s Policy Toward Gaza
-
The blockade, airstrikes, and land incursions aim to cripple Hamas militarily.
-
But the civilian death toll and destruction have led critics to accuse Israel of collective punishment, war crimes, and apartheid-like policies.
c. Civilians Trapped in the Middle
-
Palestinian civilians suffer immensely: children grow up under drone surveillance, rubble, trauma, and hopelessness.
-
Israeli civilians live with the fear of rockets and terrorism, often having mere seconds to run to shelters.
d. International Pressure and Polarization
-
The world is sharply divided. Some governments and people unequivocally support Israel; others rally behind the Palestinian cause.
-
Social media fuels polarization, often oversimplifying a deeply rooted and multi-layered conflict.
5. Can a People Who Suffered a Genocide Become Perpetrators of Mass Suffering?
Yes—and history offers precedents:
-
Victimhood does not immunize a society from becoming oppressive, especially when driven by fear, trauma, nationalism, and militarism.
-
Holocaust remembrance should instill a deep commitment to human rights for all, not just for one’s own people.
6. What Needs to Change?
-
Mutual recognition of pain: Both sides must acknowledge the other’s suffering and legitimacy.
-
End to occupation and blockade: A just resolution must address the root causes—settlements, statelessness, and lack of rights.
-
Accountability: War crimes, from any side, must be investigated and prosecuted.
-
Leadership with vision: The current leadership on both sides (Netanyahu, Hamas) often fuels cycles of violence. New, principled leaders are desperately needed.
Final Thought
What we see in Gaza today is not genocide in the Holocaust sense—there is no industrial-scale plan to exterminate a people—but it is a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions, involving systemic dehumanization, collective punishment, and denial of basic human rights.
If Israel wants to honor the memory of the Holocaust, it must not only protect its own people but also ensure it does not create permanent conditions of suffering for others. And the world must hold all actors accountable—not just based on history, but on the morality and law that history has painfully taught us.
A History of Israel-Palestine Relations and Major Conflicts Since 1930
Prelude: Palestine Under British Mandate (1917–1947)
The roots of the modern Israel-Palestine conflict trace back to the end of World War I. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration issued by the British government promised support for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Following the Ottoman defeat, Britain took administrative control of Palestine under the League of Nations Mandate system in 1920. The decades that followed saw increased Jewish immigration, largely due to rising anti-Semitism in Europe, creating tensions with the Arab population, which resented both British control and the influx of Jewish settlers.
The 1930s: Growing Tensions
During the 1930s, violent clashes became more frequent. Arab opposition culminated in the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt, a nationalist uprising against British colonial rule and mass Jewish immigration. The British responded with military force and a policy reversal, issuing the 1939 White Paper, which severely limited Jewish immigration—particularly controversial as Europe was becoming increasingly dangerous for Jews.
The Holocaust and Jewish Displacement (1933–1945)
With the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany in 1933, the Jewish population in Europe faced unprecedented persecution. The Holocaust, or the Nazi genocide of six million Jews, was the most systematic and horrifying event in Jewish history. The use of gas chambers, forced labor camps, medical experiments, and mass shootings shocked the world. This genocide created a new sense of urgency for a sovereign Jewish homeland.
Surprisingly, during World War II, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, an Arab nationalist leader, sought alliances with the Axis powers, including Nazi Germany. He met with Hitler and supported Nazi propaganda in the Middle East, hoping to curtail Zionist ambitions and gain support for Arab independence. However, these alliances were opportunistic rather than ideological, and they left a controversial legacy in the region.
1947–1948: The Creation of Israel and the First Arab-Israeli War
In 1947, the United Nations proposed partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Jews accepted the plan; Arabs rejected it. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was declared. The next day, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq invaded Israel, initiating the First Arab-Israeli War. Israel emerged victorious and expanded its territory beyond the UN-designated borders.
Over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled, becoming refugees—a foundational grievance in the Arab world. Conversely, Jewish communities in Arab countries faced reprisals, and nearly 850,000 Jews were expelled from these nations, many resettling in Israel.
The Arab-Israeli Wars (1956–1973)
- 1956 Suez Crisis: Triggered by Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal. Israel, alongside Britain and France, invaded Egypt but withdrew under U.S. and Soviet pressure.
- 1967 Six-Day War: Israel preemptively struck Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. It captured the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights. This war intensified Palestinian statelessness.
- 1973 Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur. Initially successful, they were eventually pushed back. This war led to greater U.S. support for Israel and initiated peace talks.
The Rise of Palestinian Nationalism and Terrorism (1960s–1980s)
Palestinian nationalism crystallized with the formation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964. The PLO conducted guerrilla warfare and terrorism, targeting Israeli civilians and military forces. Notable attacks include the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.
In 1987, during the First Intifada (uprising), Hamas was founded. Emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas opposed the secular PLO and adopted a more radical Islamist ideology. Its charter called for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state.
Oslo Accords and the Second Intifada (1990s–2000s)
The 1990s brought hope. The Oslo Accords (1993–1995) led to mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO. However, progress was undermined by continued settlements, suicide bombings, and political assassinations—including Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.
The Second Intifada (2000–2005) was bloodier, with hundreds of suicide attacks and harsh Israeli military responses. Trust eroded on both sides.
Gaza, Hamas, and Hezbollah
In 2006, Hamas won Palestinian elections. After a brief unity government with Fatah, it violently seized control of Gaza in 2007. Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade, citing security concerns. Since then, Gaza has faced multiple wars (2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021), with Hamas launching rockets and Israel conducting airstrikes. Civilian casualties and humanitarian crises became common.
Hezbollah, a Shiite militia in Lebanon backed by Iran, also emerged as a key anti-Israel actor. After Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah claimed victory. In 2006, it triggered a war with Israel by kidnapping soldiers. The war killed over 1,000 Lebanese and 160 Israelis.
Recent Escalations: 2020s
The Abraham Accords in 2020 marked a shift, with several Arab states (UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan) normalizing relations with Israel. However, this sidelined the Palestinian cause.
In 2021 and again in 2023, tensions in Jerusalem led to widespread violence. Hamas and Islamic Jihad launched thousands of rockets; Israel responded with overwhelming force. The civilian toll reignited global debate.
Gaza and Auschwitz: A Historical Comparison
While Gaza today is not Auschwitz, the conditions in Gaza are severe, degrading, and deadly, especially for civilians. Using Holocaust analogies requires caution—they can both illuminate and inflame. The lessons of Auschwitz—about dehumanization, mass suffering, and unchecked power—are morally relevant, but the situations are not symmetrical.
Auschwitz-Birkenau (Nazi Germany):
- Intent: Extermination of the Jewish people.
- Methods: Gas chambers, mass shootings, forced labor, medical experiments.
- Death toll: 1.1 million Jews in Auschwitz alone; 6 million total.
- Infrastructure: Built explicitly as a death factory.
Gaza (Modern Israel-Palestine Conflict):
- Intent: Israel states its goal is to stop terrorism, not exterminate a people.
- Civilian impact: Thousands of Palestinian civilians killed since 2008.
- Conditions: Severe blockade, high unemployment, limited medical access.
- Disputed: Some human rights groups have raised genocide concerns; Israel denies these.
Comparison Summary:
| Aspect | Auschwitz | Gaza |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Systematic extermination | Military/political conflict zone |
| Death Toll (Direct) | Over 1.1 million (Auschwitz) | Tens of thousands (since 2008) |
| International Law View | Genocide | Disputed—accusations of war crimes |
| Targeting | Ethnic cleansing | Israel claims it targets militants |
While some observers liken Gaza to a “concentration camp,” key differences remain: Gaza has local governance (Hamas), external aid, and no industrialized killing like in Nazi Germany. Yet, the humanitarian crisis is undeniable.
Silent Generation vs. Generation Alpha (Born 1930 vs. 2020)
Silent Generation Perspective (Born 1930): Someone born in 1930 would have witnessed World War II, the Holocaust, the establishment of Israel, and the early Arab-Israeli wars. They might view Israel as a miracle of survival and resilience—a haven for a persecuted people. For them, Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist threats reminiscent of the Nazis. The idea of statehood for Palestinians might evoke sympathy, but not at the cost of Israel’s security.
Generation Alpha Perspective (Born 2020): By 2040, a person born in 2020 may grow up with entirely different perceptions, shaped by social media, global human rights discourse, and real-time images of suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. Many might view the conflict through a humanitarian lens—empathizing with Palestinians as victims of occupation, while still condemning terrorism. The legacy of the Holocaust, while taught, may feel distant. The digital age emphasizes nuance and identity politics, creating a more complex, often polarized, view of the conflict.
The Israel-Palestine conflict remains one of the world’s most intractable struggles, steeped in history, trauma, religion, and geopolitics. From Holocaust horror to regional wars, and from Hamas rockets to global diplomacy, the narrative is layered and painful. Generational shifts will continue to influence how the story is told—and whether peace is possible.
1. The Holocaust and Israel’s Founding Trauma
Israel was born from the ashes of the Holocaust—a genocide where 6 million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany through shootings, starvation, forced labor, and industrial-scale extermination in gas chambers at camps like Auschwitz and Treblinka.
-
For Israelis, the Holocaust is not just history—it’s collective memory. It shaped Israel’s very identity and foreign policy: “Never Again” became both a personal and national vow.
-
Survivors helped build the early state. Their trauma infused Israel’s narrative with existential urgency and deep fear of annihilation.
-
This fear was reinforced by the Arab-Israeli wars, regional hostilities, and terrorist attacks.
2. Gaza Today: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
Gaza is a densely populated strip of land home to over 2 million Palestinians. It’s been under an Israeli blockade (and also blockaded by Egypt) since 2007, after Hamas seized power.
-
Frequent wars (2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2023) have left thousands of civilians dead, tens of thousands injured, and critical infrastructure in ruins.
-
Electricity, clean water, and healthcare are chronically under-resourced, largely due to the blockade and repeated bombing campaigns.
-
Israel’s justification: Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, uses civilian areas to launch rockets, hides arms in schools, and places military sites in densely populated areas.
-
Palestinian perspective: The siege and airstrikes punish civilians collectively and perpetuate despair.
3. Has Israel Forgotten the Holocaust?
This is a powerful question—and a controversial one.
-
Many Israelis and Jews around the world believe their country is acting in self-defense. From their viewpoint, Hamas and Hezbollah threaten Israel’s very survival—especially after brutal attacks like those of October 7, 2023, where over 1,000 Israelis were killed, including civilians.
-
Others, including many Jewish intellectuals and Holocaust survivors, argue that Israel has betrayed the lessons of its own suffering by collectively punishing Palestinians and violating international humanitarian law.
-
The phrase “Never Again” for some has morphed from “Never again to anyone” to “Never again to us”—shaping a security-first doctrine that, in their eyes, justifies disproportionate violence.
4. What’s Really Going On?
This is not a simple good vs. evil story. Here’s a snapshot of what fuels the ongoing conflict:
a. Hamas’ Role
-
Founded in 1987, Hamas is committed to armed resistance and does not recognize Israel.
-
It has carried out suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and hostage-taking.
-
Its ideology is rooted in Islamist nationalism; its actions often draw condemnation from much of the world.
b. Israel’s Policy Toward Gaza
-
The blockade, airstrikes, and land incursions aim to cripple Hamas militarily.
-
But the civilian death toll and destruction have led critics to accuse Israel of collective punishment, war crimes, and apartheid-like policies.
c. Civilians Trapped in the Middle
-
Palestinian civilians suffer immensely: children grow up under drone surveillance, rubble, trauma, and hopelessness.
-
Israeli civilians live with the fear of rockets and terrorism, often having mere seconds to run to shelters.
d. International Pressure and Polarization
-
The world is sharply divided. Some governments and people unequivocally support Israel; others rally behind the Palestinian cause.
-
Social media fuels polarization, often oversimplifying a deeply rooted and multi-layered conflict.
5. Can a People Who Suffered a Genocide Become Perpetrators of Mass Suffering?
Yes—and history offers precedents:
-
Victimhood does not immunize a society from becoming oppressive, especially when driven by fear, trauma, nationalism, and militarism.
-
Holocaust remembrance should instill a deep commitment to human rights for all, not just for one’s own people.
6. What Needs to Change?
-
Mutual recognition of pain: Both sides must acknowledge the other’s suffering and legitimacy.
-
End to occupation and blockade: A just resolution must address the root causes—settlements, statelessness, and lack of rights.
-
Accountability: War crimes, from any side, must be investigated and prosecuted.
-
Leadership with vision: The current leadership on both sides (Netanyahu, Hamas) often fuels cycles of violence. New, principled leaders are desperately needed.
Final Thought
What we see in Gaza today is not genocide in the Holocaust sense—there is no industrial-scale plan to exterminate a people—but it is a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions, involving systemic dehumanization, collective punishment, and denial of basic human rights.
If Israel wants to honor the memory of the Holocaust, it must not only protect its own people but also ensure it does not create permanent conditions of suffering for others. And the world must hold all actors accountable—not just based on history, but on the morality and law that history has painfully taught us.
Compiled Curated By Abi John For Time.i.ng