“Between shrapnel and siege: the “Holocaust” of Gaza”

Alyssa Perez

I. Citation
“Between shrapnel and siege: the “Holocaust” of Gaza”
By Fatema G Valji
The Muslim News
March 28, 2008
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=3414

II. Summary
In this article, we are given a look into a conflict of murder from Israeli attacks. Palestinians are being constantly killed in a mass murder spree similar to the German Holocaust. These attacks are being executed in the form of rockets, missiles and bombs in Palestinian villages. More than 100 people have been killed and over 250 have been injured in the line of fire. A majority of these people were innocent civilians. Countries neighboring this area have said they think the idea of these mass killings to be unnecessary since the people of Palestine have done nothing except reinforce their laws and try to make peace.

III. Reactions
A.) This article relates to the theme ‘State-building, expansion and conflict’ because of all the fighting going on. The Israeli people are revolting against the Palestinians and causing, what could be, a major conflict for the Middle Eastern area.
B.) There isn’t much background on this issue other than the defensive attack on February 27th which was ‘in retaliation to the first Israeli fatality by Palestinian rocket fire in 9 months.’
C.) The article is being written in the point of view of, what I believe to be, an outsider to the event. They are trying to keep an eye on all the fighting going on so it doesn’t become out of control.
D.) Since we are hearing an outsider’s point of view, all the details may not be included. We probably are only getting the major points of the issue to get the message across to the reader. There seems to possibly be bias towards the Palestinians just because of the feeling of sympathy that the author seems to write with.
E.) It would be helpful to hear from either a Palestinian or Israeli. By having these points of view, we could get the story as being told from the attackers and maybe get their reason why they are attacking. By hearing from the Palestinian, we can find out what they think of what the reason is and hear how it is affecting them.
F.) I think that the Israeli’s don’t have a reason to be killing all these innocent people. Unless there is a legitimate reason as to why the Palestinians should be punished, why would anyone think to do that? Not saying that killing is the answer but it shouldn’t be considered if nothing was caused to spark it.