OPINION: By only seeing themselves as victims, Israelis and Palestinians continue the mutual infliction of suffering
Magen Inon , who lost both his parents in 7 October attacks by Hamas, says ongoing fear for the hostages keeps the trauma at the forefront of many minds
As an Israeli living in London, the international Holocaust Memorial Day is an unfamiliar concept. In Israel, Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG’vurah – Remembrance Day for the Holocaust and the Resistance – falls on a different date entirely. In 2024, it will be commemorated on 5 May, a week after Passover eve and a week before the National Memorial Day and Independence Day, which follow one another.
The common thread of this chain of ceremonial days is clear: it is Israel’s way of highlighting the idea summarised in the Passover phrase: “In every generation, they wish to annihilate us.” Pharaoh, Hitler, and now Hamas. This victim mentality still drives Israel’s desire for military strength, its desire to demonstrate that what happened shall never happen again.
But on 7 October 2023, it happened again. The nature of the Hamas atrocities in the surprise attack, which included murdering innocent men, women and children, rape and burning, fits into the narrative of Jews as victims. The extent of the atrocities is such that many Israelis are traumatised and feel genuine fear and anxiety. Every day, another news report covers the story of the horrible events of that day from the perspective of a new person. The fear for the lives of the hostages in Gaza is similarly very real and also keeps the trauma alive in many people’s minds. In the Israeli imagination, the atrocities of that day are continually recurring. When an Israeli soldier dances in Gaza, that’s his misguided and foolish way of saying ‘never again.’
In the eyes of the Palestinians, the image of a dancing soldier, of Israel’s strength, fits the narrative of the Palestinians as victims, as the weak side in this conflict. For Palestinians, the current war and suffering in Gaza, the high number of casualties, and the displacement of nearly all of the 2.2 million inhabitants from their homes are another iteration of the wrongs that were done to them by Israelis in the past 75 years. They too see it as history repeating itself.
By only seeing themselves as victims saying ‘never again,’ Israelis and Palestinians condemn themselves to continue the mutual infliction of suffering. We might not be able to change these views, but we don’t have to be trapped by them. The way forward is to recognise that both sides bear responsibility whilst also being victims.
The lesson we need to learn from the Holocaust is that, with time and effort, peace and reconciliation are possible even after the most horrible of crimes. It starts by having the self-confidence of not seeking revenge, not demonstrating strength by inflicting pain upon others, by being willing to compromise and move on with hope.
The current leadership of both Israel and Palestine is too weak to offer hope for people between the river and the sea. I believe the days of these people as leaders are numbered, but whoever replaces them may still be trapped by the historical narrative. To free Israelis and Palestinians from this trap, we need a coalition of international leaders willing to act as the responsible adults. To prevent future atrocities, military strength is not enough – we need a political solution. It is time we change the tune.
Magen Inon is a London-based father of three from Israel who is an educator and holds a PhD in philosophy of education. He has worked in various domains to cultivate liberal values and leadership skills, including with students at top universities, high-ranking military officers, promising young adults and inmates. Since the murder of his parents in the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Magen Inon has become a leading voice for peace between Israelis and Palestinians within international media, local communities and the political elite.
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