Children of Gaza

By Hichem Karoui

- The concept of a "civilised" world is a facade as it often turns a blind eye to atrocities happening globally.
- Ongoing conflicts and wars in various regions are conveniently overlooked despite the values of peace and justice.
- Political interests, economic alliances, and nationalistic agendas hinder addressing humanitarian crises.
- The media's focus on sensationalism and entertainment distracts from pressing issues, fostering indifference.
- Economic systems prioritising profit can lead to human rights abuses and environmental destruction.
- Consumers unknowingly support companies that profit from exploitation and suffering.
- Collective action is necessary to challenge structures that perpetuate indifference and to prioritise compassion, justice, and human dignity.

- A once-bustling seaside town is now a desolate battlefield with the sounds of explosions and gunfire.
- Families are divided, and innocent lives are lost in a complex web of historical grievances and power struggles.
- The aftermath of war leaves deep wounds, requiring not just physical but also psychological and emotional healing.
- International actors, through the flow of weapons and support, exacerbate conflicts and prolong suffering.
- The seaside town serves as a reminder of the urgent need for diplomacy, empathy, and understanding to prevent such tragedies.

Democracy, touted as the pinnacle of societal organisation, often falls short of its ideals due to wealth disparities, majority rule, and the influence of money and power in politics.

Children in war-torn regions find ways to embrace life's simple joys and create laughter despite the harsh realities they face, serving as a testament to their resilience and irrepressible spirit.

The art of looking the other way is a dangerous habit that permeates various aspects of life, perpetuating injustice and suffering. It can be unlearned by confronting uncomfortable truths and holding those in power accountable.
- Society often pays no heed to injustice, perpetuating systemic oppression and inequality.
- Politics, media, and personal relationships are affected by this habit of indifference.
- Passivity allows the powerful to continue oppressive ways while vulnerable populations suffer.
- Unlearning the art involves questioning narratives, holding leaders accountable, and demanding change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GEW Reports & Analyses
• Release date: Nov 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781787950672

Hichem Karoui

Writer /Journalist/ Senior Researcher: London Published over 30 books and counting, (translations not included). Authored co-authored, edited, and published hundreds of daily/ weekly/ monthly briefings, reports and analyses, peer-reviewed articles, monographs, and books, about MENA region and international politics. Participated in many international conferences, either on the panel, as a member of the organizing team, or as a journalist.  Has been involved with the media since his early career, thus serving in different posts: reporter, investigation journalist, copy editor, cultural journalism, political journalism, editorialist, and Executive Editor.  Translated several books/documents. Also reviewed translations for publishers. Member of several academic boards.  Veteran columnist and commentator for the media.  Ranking in the top 10%of Authors by all-time downloads on Social Science Research Network.

Book preview

Children of Gaza

Requiem For a Civilisation In Decline

Hichem Karoui

Copyright © [2023] by [Hichem Karoui]

ISBN: 978-1-78795-067-2

GEW Reports & Analyses

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by copyright law.

Contents

Epigraph

1.The Civilised World's Blind Eye

2.The Hypocrisy of Democracy

3.Children's Laughter Amidst Chaos

4.The Art of Turning a Blind Eye

5.A Seaside Playground Turned Battlefield

6.The Deafening Silence of the Media

7.Collateral Damage and Other Euphemisms

8.The Powerlessness of the Innocent

9.The Humanitarian Crisis Ignored

10.Condemnation in Words, Inaction in Deeds

The world is changed by your example, not your opinion. - Paulo Coelho

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. - Albert Einstein

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion... People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. - Nelson Mandela

1

The Civilised World's Blind Eye

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As the world continues its relentless march forward, propelled by technological advancements and the pursuit of progress, it becomes increasingly apparent that the notion of a civilised society is merely a facade. Behind the veneer of sophistication and development lies an uncomfortable truth – our collective indifference and blindness to the atrocities occurring in every corner of the globe.

In this chapter, we delve into the depths of how the so-called civilised world turns a blind eye to the immense suffering of others. We unravel the intricate web of hypocrisy, apathy, and double standards that conspire to allow us to ignore the injustices happening before our eyes. One of the gravest and most disheartening examples of this blind-eye phenomenon is the failure to address the ongoing conflicts and wars that continue to ravage various regions around the world. While we espouse the values of peace, justice, and equality, we conveniently overlook the relentless atrocities committed against innocent civilians.

From the unrelenting carnage in Yemen, where countless lives are destroyed by ongoing war and famine, to the horrifying genocide in Myanmar, where the Rohingya minority faces unspeakable violence and persecution, we choose not to see or to hear their cries for help. It is a perplexing paradox that in an era of unparalleled connectivity