Today, Gaza resists the Israeli military, just as American activist Rachel Corrie confronted an Israeli bulldozer in March 2003...

Today, Gaza stands up to the Israeli military, evoking the brave act of an American, Rachel Corrie, in March 2003, when she courageously positioned herself in front of an Israeli bulldozer.

The Western world proudly raises the banner of freedom and the right to self-determination of peoples. These ideals are not only embraced but deeply rooted, for freedom embodies the soul of our writings, the essence of our words, and the purpose of our deeds. Yet, between grand declarations and their practical application, lie the devils in the details, or rather all devils.

Ukraine beautifully exemplifies this quest for freedom and determination to shape its destiny. Its struggle unquestionably deserves support. Still, that support comes with predetermined choices, which might even lead to its residents migrating. Europe opens its doors, welcoming those seeking asylum. However, a contrasting scene unfolds for Syria. Freedom is a concept the Syrian people cherish, but the West only opens a handful of doors for a few hundred refugees, while thousands are relegated to refugee camps in neighboring countries. The sole financial assistance they receive is to maintain their exile, far from their homeland, which they are forbidden from re-entering.

Palestine, on the other hand, has long been excluded from the equation. The West chose to let the Palestinian people face their fate, remaining indifferent to the atrocities committed by the Israeli war machine. It remained silent about the 770-kilometer long and 8-meter high separation wall dividing Palestinian lands. The same West celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 but turned a blind eye to the Israeli wall built in a region where a two-state solution was supposedly on the horizon, as dictated by Western guidelines.

Freedom and life seem reserved for those who align with Western thought, its vision, and its way of interpreting the surrounding world. This is the axis of life, where anything different must necessarily be its opposite. Palestine seems to have no place on this map, and its fate can only be influenced by those who claim Israeli nationality, those who offer no opportunity without backing it with support for Israel.

It's essential to remember that the term "mediator" suggests one who stands between two parties, seeking a balance between them. So, is there a genuine mediator, in the true sense of the word, capable of addressing the Palestinian issue and proposing a two-state solution?

For a long time, the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island, facing New York, symbolized the fight against oppression and tyranny. Yet, the West exports a vastly different notion of freedom to the Palestinians: the freedom to die, accompanied by military supplies, ammunition, and expertise supporting the war machine that will claim these civilians' lives. A grim demographic redistribution is underway. Forced displacement and killing work to restore a demographic balance between Israelis and Palestinians. Recent events in Gaza might well serve this aim, thereby reducing what some view as a "Palestinian demographic imbalance."

The Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island has long stood as a symbol against oppression and tyranny. A gift from France to America, it embodies the French ideals of freedom, equality, and fraternity. These values are inspiring, having genuinely motivated nations and embodied principles and ethics. However, they don't translate in the Palestinian context. The freedom championed by America and France, the rejection of injustice and tyranny, and the principles of equality and fraternity, cannot be applied here. Between Israel as an entity and Palestine as land and people, equality is unattainable, and freedom is denied. The West exports to Palestine only weapons that kill Palestinians. These arms deprive them of their freedom to work, move, and live – human rights acknowledged by international treaties and standards. Yet, Palestine doesn't belong to this world, and the Palestinian, according to the UN and other international bodies, is nothing more than a concern, a case to handle, rather than a partner in solidarity and a subject for sanctions when their rights are violated.

All condemnatory statements, outcry, and expressions of disapproval are in vain, weightless, and unable to translate into action to change the reality. They can't compare to the weapons stockpile, financial support, Western solidarity visits, and facilitation of escape from war crime prosecutions.

Today, Gaza resists the Israeli military, just as American activist Rachel Corrie confronted an Israeli bulldozer in March 2003. The bulldozer's driver crushed Rachel's body and all she symbolized in terms of calls for peace, rejection of violence, and war. Today or tomorrow, the war machine will crush many like Rachel. When Israel's retaliatory war ends, fewer Palestinian peace advocates will remain, and those who attacked the Gaza settlements a week ago will prevail. The war won't end with the cessation of military combat. The surprise attack by the Al-Qassam Brigades could well mark the beginning of a series of attacks using different methods, possibly targeting unexpected sites.