For Myth #4, click here.
To go back to Myth #2, click here.
3. MYTH: Israel has the right to exist and defend itself, but Palestinians do not
FACT:Under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Israel’s use of weapons of industrial warfare against a helpless civilian population inherently gives the Palestinians the right to self-defense. However, all rocket fire by Hamas — which Hamas claims to be in self-defense — has been referred to by Israel as terrorism.
FACT: The most overlooked issue of this conflict is that what happened in Gaza under Operation Protective Edge is an expression of colonialism and a continuation of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and ethnic cleansing of the native Palestinian population since 1948. Since Israel declared its statehood, it has annexed most Palestinian land and has ethnically cleansed its native population, ensuring that Palestine does not exist.
FACT: This resurfacing of aggressive rhetoric coming from Israel toward the Gaza Strip, Palestinians and Hamas came not long after Hamas and its political rival, Fatah, declared a unity government. This sign of unity among the Palestinian population is a step closer to Palestinian statehood being recognized by the international community, which would grant Palestine true sovereignty in the eyes of the world. Palestinians have said that once granted statehood, they will take Israel to the International Criminal Court for war crimes.