Renowned Israeli author Yuval Noah Harari emphasized the need to understand the complexity of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He highlighted that Hamas, the Islamist group in Gaza, doesn’t care about human suffering, be it Israelis or Palestinians. Israel declared war on Hamas after an attack on its border, resulting in significant casualties. Harari mentioned that religious fanaticism, seen both in ISIS and Hamas, is a grave concern for humanity.
Yuval Noah Harari expressed concern about religious extremism and its disregard for human suffering in this world, as some groups believe they will attain eternal bliss in another world. He pointed out that focusing on a single religion isn’t the issue; it’s the indifference to suffering and the focus on an afterlife that poses a problem.
Israel has responded to Hamas with a relentless bombing campaign, causing casualties, mainly among ordinary Palestinians in the long-blockaded Gaza Strip. Harari stressed that there can be no victor in this cycle of violence and encouraged people to refrain from consuming horrifying images that only fuel hatred and fear.
When discussing de-escalation and India’s potential role, Harari acknowledged India as a democracy committed to democratic ideals. He hoped that India would use its leverage with countries like Iran to prevent further escalation of the conflict. He emphasized the importance of releasing hostages as a crucial step towards peace.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a toll on civilians and has regional implications. Harari acknowledged the difficulty but not the impossibility of waging war against Hamas while protecting civilian rights. He noted that Hamas has kept both Israelis and Palestinians as hostages and has prevented civilians from leaving, using them as human shields.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in numerous casualties and injuries, affecting both Israelis and Palestinians. The situation is complex and calls for efforts to bring about peace and stability in the region.