On the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Karan Thapar on Saturday, November 11, interviewed Ilan Pappe, professor of international studies at the University of Exeter, and the author of The Idea of Israel and The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.
The 44-minute interview analysed the moral issues and questions raised by the Israel-Hamas war: Why is it important to remember that the October 7 did not happen in a vacuum? Is criticism of Israel tantamount to anti-semitism? Is Israel determined to obliterate Hamas no matter what the civilian Palestinian death toll? If yes, does the end justify the means? Does America’s refusal to call for a ceasefire make it complicit?
If Israel has a right of self-defence against Hamas terrorism don’t the Palestinian people have a right of self-defence against Israel’s brutal 56-year occupation? Is cutting off Gaza’s electricity, water, fuel and food understandable as a way of separating the Palestinian people from Hamas and coercing them to leave Gaza? And after advising Palestinians to move south for their safety how does Israel justify bombing Khan Yunis, Rafah and refugee camps in the south?