By Matt Underwood Israel intensifies Gaza City bombing as Rubio arrives, and the first thing that strikes you is the sheer audacity of it all. It feels like a calculated message, a multi-pronged declaration to the world, and specifically to certain people in the US. It’s as if they’re saying, “The US is with us,” to the international community, while simultaneously whispering to, well, let’s call him “the former guy,” “You can’t control our actions.”
What’s left to bomb, honestly? It’s a question that keeps popping up. Gaza City looks like it’s been through a meat grinder. They’re turning rubble into smaller rubble. And the feeling is, it’s only going to get worse as public opinion shifts. It’s almost as if the current situation is a “look at me” moment before a big event in the US and the rest of the world splits its attention elsewhere.
The fact that Marco Rubio is visiting at the same time only adds another layer of complexity to the situation. It’s hard to ignore the symbolism of a high-profile US politician’s presence while this is happening, suggesting an official endorsement of the actions.
The scale of the destruction is heartbreaking. When reports mention damage to around 60% of the buildings, the other 40% include downtown Gaza, and the devastation becomes very apparent. Comparing Gaza to Grozny…well, the similarities are chilling, and that’s probably the point. To destroy the city to the point where they can later rebuild it on their terms.
It’s difficult to look past the sheer numbers of casualties. The displacement, the suffering, the looming starvation, it’s a humanitarian crisis that is happening right now. There are more than just the direct victims, the wounded and the displaced who face a dark future and it’s not a question of politics.
There is the constant feeling that maybe, just maybe, the world has lost its mind, on all sides. But it’s hard not to focus on the sheer disregard for human life that’s on display. And, to be frank, the international community seems powerless to stop it. Maybe pressure from stopping weapon delivery can help push Israel into some kind of sense.
Of course, there are different perspectives, with some pointing out that Israel has repeatedly offered peace proposals. However, for many people, the sheer amount of violence seems to have overshadowed any previous deals. A peace solution has to include both sides.
But the most important question to consider is, “What does any of this accomplish?”. The constant bombing, the relentless destruction, is it working? Is it making anyone safer? In the end, what is it all for?