By Aly Kamadia, Editor-In-Chief, iDose
Innocent blood continues to flood a part of the Middle East.
On October 23rd (2023), the United Nations (UN) stated that over 5000 Palestinians had been killed since the ruthless attack by Hamas on October 7th, when over 1400 Israeli lives were erased, and roughly 200 taken hostage.
The UN added that in Gaza, women and children made up 62% of the fatalities, while more than 1000 “are presumed to be trapped or dead under the rubble”.
On the evening that I am authoring these words (October 24th), Gaza authorities are claiming that at least 700 Palestinians were killed overnight in Israeli airstrikes, bringing the Palestinian death toll to roughly 6000.
Anyone who has seen the images and videos of the unfolding horror knows that the present humanitarian plight in Gaza defies adequate description through mere words; it is an unspeakable tragedy.
As the founding editor-in-chief of a global online publication, featuring commentary and analysis from notable intellectuals throughout the planet, I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate a primary value that drives iDose. Along with a second statement, these are important given the very sensitive emotions flooding peoples’ hearts during the current moment.
First, iDose is committed to the freedom of speech. Coincidentally, I reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to this value in a newsletter posted on June 28th of this year (which you can read here).
As the editor of iDose Magazine, I have zero respect for people who persistently advertise their unyielding devotion to objectivity and freedom of speech, only to silence any voices that don’t conform to their personal ideologies. They represent the antithesis of the very Western values that they feign love for.
Second, and it’s embarrassing to even have to write this, but my personal opinion is that all innocent human life, whether Israeli, Palestinian, black, brown, yellow, white, etc. are equally precious. It’s “embarrassing” to say this because many of today’s Western political leaders preach multiculturalism and tolerance, when in reality, they view the other side as disposable animals – an attitude with a long, depressing and bloody history.
That said, I trust readers will enjoy this month’s selection of articles.
Shlomo Ben-Ami’s piece (former Israeli foreign minister), posted earlier this month, was intellectually honest regardless of however much one agrees with his analysis. As is the article written by the world famous philosopher Slavoj Žižek, who argues that both the Israelis and Palestinians suffer from having fundamentalists that make a two state solution impossible.
The Canadian scholar Jasmin Zine offers commentary on how Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism is currently playing out. It includes her view that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow have played roles in being a vehicle for such hate.
And finally, we have chosen to post a long read (i.e., essay) by Andrew Bacevich that was originally written in April 2009. As is always the case with the Chairman for the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Bacevich never shies away from highlighting what he perceives as the not-so-comfortable historical truths that our memories all too often dismiss.
Enjoy!
Aly Kamadia
Editor-In-Chief, iDose
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