Gaza, the judge of morality

We all claim to be moral individuals. In fact, it is the way in which we present ourselves to the world. When first meeting people, we attempt to signal our virtues and moral behavior. We are unconsciously aware that doing so will make us more likable and will increase our social value. We intuitively know that being perceived as rude or evil is counterproductive.

Through our social interactions, We begin to notice different patterns of behavior in people as we get to know them. As a result, we deduce that it is important to look beyond appearances when trying to discern the true moral nature of others. While first impressions may sometimes give us a glimpse of a person’s socio-economic status, educational level, and personality type, it is certain that only time can reveal a person’s moral essence, or lack thereof.

Gradually, we come to the conclusion that most people hide parts of themselves, if not themselves. We wear masks for various reasons. Some are because we want to increase our social value, we’re unhappy and ashamed of ourselves, we’re vulnerable and want to protect ourselves, or we’re just malicious. In any case, what is certain is that everyone participates in this game, except for a small, authentic fraction of the population who refuse to do so at their peril.

Morality as a spectrum

Morality falls on a spectrum. At either end of the spectrum we find highly moral and immoral people. In between is a continuum that represents the various people with their varying degrees of (im)morality. The small percentage of people at either extreme are responsible for influencing those in between. One side is willing to die for good and the other is willing to kill for evil. The former is willing to sacrifice themselves for universal justice and the latter is willing to sacrifice everyone for their personal interests. The former influences the majority by inspiration, the latter by coercion.

In addition, most people have a moral compass, that is, until the costs outweigh the benefits. The cost could be physical danger, social ostracism, or professional and financial loss. Yet most people operate with a sense of right and wrong, they are empathetic, and even when they turn a blind eye to evil, they may feel guilty. Not fighting for justice or speaking out against injustice does not necessarily indicate immorality. Most often, their action or inaction is a result of their instinctive desire to protect themselves.

The battle between the two ends has been going on since the beginning of time. Whether it is religious Good versus Evil, Stoicism versus Machiavellianism, colonialism and occupation versus independence and liberation, or racism and apartheid versus racial and ethnic equality. In all these cases, bloody and decimating wars have been waged. Populations had been influenced to choose sides. But who won the battle, one might ask. Agreeing on an International law and a universal constitution named the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be the answer.

Gaza, a case study

The genocide in the Gaza Strip is a perfect illustration of the moral model mentioned above. Since the beginning of the genocide, one could observe the fierce battle between the minority that fought for an immediate ceasefire and the other that called for the annihilation of the Palestinian people. As predicted, the majority chose to watch from a distance without taking part.

At first, the voices of those directly affected were the loudest. Palestinians had to represent and defend themselves against Israelis and the Western media. Slowly but surely, small waves of support from around the world started to accumulate, in favor of an immediate ceasefire against genocide. Support for the Palestinian cause grew. The general public began to see the reality of the situation in the Gaza Strip through the pro-Palestinian voices and the horrific images of the genocide.

Students from prestigious universities, especially in the U.S., protested massively against the genocide, even when they were met with violence by either the police or Zionist demonstrators. South Africa sued Israel for genocide at the International Criminal Court, which later provoked arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. Western governments such as Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized the statehood of Palestine. The attack on Rafah, however, had a tangible effect on the masses. The majority who had been silent finally decided to speak out. People began to pay attention to the issue, at least on social media.

Through this conflict, one could see how people’s morality is in fact distributed on a spectrum, regardless of origin. The moral minority is composed of diverse people with different identities, and the same is true for the immoral ones. In fact, one of the biggest voices for the Palestinian people is Jewish people. A fraction of the group that is supposed to be on one side of the conflict is fighting for the rights of the other’s. This fact in itself is a demonstration of the universal nature of justice and Good.

Justice always triumphs. Good always wins. We have all heard these maxims. Some believe them to be true, others believe them to be fairytales. If we look at the genocide in Gaza as a battle between justice and injustice, or good and evil, we might be able to predict which side will win. At the moment, the ongoing genocide may present Israel as winning the military war. However, global shifts in international politics and public opinion indicate that Israel is losing all other wars: political, economic, legal, and especially moral.

At this critical moment, one should ask oneself some serious questions. Which side of history do I want to belong to? The good side or the evil side? To speak or to remain silent? Some might say that this is a complicated and complex subject, that it requires nuance, and that it is not as simple and binary. But is it really the case? With every day that passes, Israel continues its genocide against the Palestinian people with impunity. The attack on Rafah and the decapitation of Gazan children are enough to make you take a stand. To stop this, everyone must speak out. Your voice matters, so use it.