Why I support Israel — even though I believe Palestinians have suffered tremendously, and unjustly!

Again like with every post. I go through a lot of effort to articulate my thoughts so please if you want to engage with what I have written please actually read the entire post before making glib and insensitive comments.

On one hand, I support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. On the other hand, I can't ignore the overwhelming suffering Palestinians endure — and the role Israel has played in creating and sustaining that suffering.

Let’s be honest: Israel has committed many unjust and disproportionate acts toward Palestinians. Settler violence is rampant and increasing, often going unpunished. These are acts of terrorism, and they’re part of a broader system of control and domination. But what’s even more troubling is this: Israel built a thriving, innovative, and open economy — while deliberately preventing Palestinians from doing the same.

Israel has high-tech exports, multiple international airports, a thriving tourism industry, 5G internet, and an economy that ranks among the world’s most advanced. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are confined to small, disconnected enclaves, encircled by settlements and checkpoints, with no real control over borders, trade, airspace, or natural resources.

Palestinians are denied the ability to build industries, trade freely, or invest in meaningful employment for their own communities. Their economy is deliberately stifled. And yet some Israelis dismiss this suffering by pointing to a few cafes or shopping malls as signs of comfort. That comparison is insulting and so unbelievably patronising, especially when this applies to MILLIONS of people.

Do Israelis ever ask what it's like to grow up in a place where you can't leave freely, can't find stable work, and have no control over your own economic future — while watching your occupier thrive in every way?

Yet, Israel accepted the 1947 UN partition plan. It didn’t initiate the civil war. While displacement occurred, it wasn’t all centrally planned. Ben Gurion explicitly called for Arabs to remain and condemned certain expulsions especially in Ashdod and ashkelon.

Israel’s blockade has devastated Gaza’s economy, stripped people of opportunity, and blocked basic goods. But Hamas has misused aid and smuggled weapons instead of investing in clean water, electricity, or development. If they could have smuggled weapons they could have smuggled in these resources. Instead they confiscated all the aid and lived in luxury whilst their people suffered.

Camp David in 2000 and the 2008 peace offer weren’t perfect, but they were serious starting points. Rejecting them was very very stupid and was a sign of irresponsible leadership on the Palestinian side. Additionally, the launching of the intafadas meant that Israel had no choice but to set up checkpoints and build walls all over the West Bank to stop the suicide bombings.

October 7th was disgusting. The brutality of Hamas’s attacks that day was unforgivable. I cried watching the footage of civilians and hostages, especially the recent ones watching that hostage dig his grave. THAT WAS COMPLETE AND UTTER BARBARISM AND THOSE HOSTAGES NEED TO BE BROUGHT HOME. I support Israel bombing the Gaza Strip until it eliminates Hamas and I believe Israel is NOT committing a genocide in this regard.

Overall, the fact that many in the pro-Palestinian movement are downplaying or ignoring this horror or even celebrating and encouraging these acts of terrorism is morally shocking. It pushed people like me away from the Palestinian cause, even though I still care about Palestinian civilians and their rights.