Words are falling on Gaza

Introduction 2004
This poem written in 2009 is tragically relevant to today’s Israeli onslaught on Gaza (October 2024). The facts of the 2009 22 day bombardment follow this poem. The term “militant” has been replaced by the Israelis and they now refer to “terrorists”. The media never assume that the Palestinians have any right to self defence. They might call the Palestinian fighters “resistance fighters.”  If you think about it words can be very misleading and in war they are deliberately used to mislead.  Unbiased journalists should be able to distinguish between propaganda and truth. Otherwise they are taking sides and perhaps shielding aggressors from public comment. What do you think?

Gaza, 6 January, 2009
ITN website: The Prime Minister said today “This is a very dangerous moment. I think everybody around the world is expressing grave concern,” but what use are words?

On Saturday
after days of bombing and shelling
Israeli ground troops moved into Gaza.
Tanks, grenades, machine guns,
helicopter gunships,
bombs from the air
shelling from the sea.

More than 500 Palestinians killed
men, women and children.
Hospitals overwhelmed.

Five Israelis killed.
More than 700 Palestinians killed.
Hospitals are out of supplies.
People are out of food and water.

Nine Israelis have been killed.

The killing goes on.

For six decades
the killing has gone on.

The Israelis want peace.
The Palestinians want peace.
The Israelis are seeking an end
to violence.

Words, words.
What use are words?

The Israelis are only attacking “militants”.
Have they ever considered
what creates a militant?

What is a “militant” ?
Maybe people who are fighting back?
To stop them fighting back
maybe you shouldn’t attack.

The Israelis say
we are only attacking “militants”.
We are not attacking “civilians”.

Bombs are falling.
Tanks are shelling.
Helicopter gunships are strafing.
But they are not attacking “civilians”.
They are “discriminating”.
Oh yes they are.

Words, words.

They are “discriminating”.
Only attacking human beings,
a university,
a police station,
people leaving prayers outside a mosque,
a United Nations school.
Completely “accidentally”
bombs fall on blocks of flats.

Peace?
Civilians?
Militants?
Discriminating?
Accidentally?

Words, words.
What do words mean?
Who needs words?
Forget words.
We are not fooled by words.
There are too many words.

Statesmen
(what is a statesman?)
urge peace talks.
More words.

There have been peace talks for decades.
What use have they been?
Don’t answer.
We don’t need more words.
The Palestinians don’t need words.
They need justice.

Words are camouflage.
If politicians
cannot say something meaningful
let them be quiet.
We would welcome the news:
Today no politician spoke.

Let’s get to the nitty-gritty.

Who pays the Israelis?
Who supplies weapons to the Israelis?
Who trades with the Israelis?
Who could influence the Israelis?

Do we have moral leaders?
Do we have civilised leaders?
Do we have leaders
who understand the meaning
of their own words?
Do we have leaders who really
give a damn?

Could they stop the torture
of the Palestinian people?

Could they stop the persecution
of the Palestinian people?

Could they stop the robbery,
the imprisonment and murder
of the Palestinian people?

We are facing
avoidable human suffering.

The whole world knows
what is going on.

Should we speak out?
Bleat like lambs?
More words?
What can be done?

We can be sure
that leaders will speak out.

More words.

Words are falling on Gaza.
Words words.

6 January 2009

Note 2009
Prime Minister, Gordon Brown’s comments and “over 700 killed” are from today’s ITN website. Other estimates are lower at the moment. Over two and a half thousand have been injured.

Gaza Israel war 2009 The final death toll
Information gathered by Chat GPT
The Israel-Gaza War of 2008-2009, often referred to as Operation Cast Lead, took place from December 27, 2008, to January 18, 2009. This 22-day conflict was marked by high levels of violence and civilian casualties.
Key Statistics for Deaths:
• Total Palestinian Deaths: Approximately 1,166 to 1,417 (according to various sources, including Palestinian and international bodies)
◦ Civilians: Estimated between 759 and 926
◦ Combatants: Approximately 235 to 400
• Total Israeli Deaths: 13
◦ Civilians: 3
◦ Soldiers: 10 (some of whom died due to friendly fire)
Additional Context
• The conflict resulted in significant destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, including homes, schools, and medical facilities.
• Reports from human rights organizations highlighted concerns over the high civilian casualty rate, especially given Gaza’s dense population.
These statistics reflect widely cited estimates, although they vary slightly depending on the source.

End of Chat GPT info.