To the Editor,
My understanding is this protest/boycott is based on accusations that a couple of corporations that own shares in Starbucks (less than 16%) have the audacity to support Israel in this terrible war? No boycott of nations, or companies that support Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Jihad, etc.? No boycotts against a terrorist group that committed the most heinous crimes against humanity we have seen in over a generation? Signs and chalk writing using the terms “genocide” (what do you think “From the River to The Sea” means??) and “occupation”? Where were these people in the almost three weeks between the Oct 7 purely evil, barbaric and truly genocidal attack by Hamas and the unfortunate, retaliatory and necessary invasion by Israel starting on Oct 27?
I am so tired of people throwing around the term genocide when it is completely obvious who conducts this behavior, Hamas. Genocide, “the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group“. This has been part of Hamas’ stated goal, to wipe out Israel and murder all the Jews in particular. One of their leaders was recently interviewed and reiterated that this is still their goal and will repeat the same atrocities time and time again until Israel is gone and the world is rid of Jews (you can find it all over YouTube via multiple sources). Gaza's population has only grown since the re-establishment of the state of Israel (The U.S. Census Bureau International Database data estimates that Gaza's Palestinian population increased from only 265,800 in 1960 to 342,700 in 1970, 431,600 in 1980, 645,100 in 1990, 1,1 million in 2000, 1.5 million in 2010, and 2.1 million in 2023). Even in war the IDF has tried to protect innocent civilians via several means, whom Hamas uses as human shields, combatants dress in civilian clothes, they built their infrastructure and tunnels in, next to and under homes, schools, mosques, hospitals, all proven! This is an extremely difficult and horrifying situation and unfortunately in the history of wars innocent civilians often pay a terrible cost, too many again in this case as well. I do know that the IDF is not deliberately targeting civilians. This is not “genocide”. If Hamas surrendered and returned the hostages there would be peace, if Israel ever laid down its arms they would be slaughtered, genocide...
The protesters also use the word "occupation"? Israel forcibly removed all Jewish inhabitants, (is this not apartheid?) from Gaza, including its army in 2005, leaving green houses, homes, etc. The Gazans themselves razed everything that would have benefited them because they were built by Jews. Yes, Egypt and Israel had established a limited blockade of Gaza (Israel still allowed thousands of people to enter Israel for work and health, as well as supplementing water and power). Without it I can only imagine how much more concrete for attack tunnels and weapons to murder Jews (this is really about Jews, not Israelis), would have been at Hamas' disposal. Where are the homes, schools, hospitals, power stations, etc. that we and the EU, UNWRA and many other nations/organizations paid for over the years. What did Hamas do to help Gazans? Even food and fuel are confiscated by Hamas, they do not care about their people, only killing Jews…They are the occupiers of Gaza. FYI:
• Gaza gets its water from three main sources. Three seawater desalination plants that can produce around 7 percent of Gaza's clean water needs. Three pipelines from Israel that provide around 13 percent of Gaza's water needs. In 2021, about 90% of Gaza's water came from groundwater wells, according to the Palestinian Water Authority. The remaining 10% of the water supply comes from the desalination plants or is purchased from Israel's national water company, Mekorot
• Gaza's main sources of electricity are its single power plant in Deir al-Balah and from Israeli lines, which make up nearly two-thirds of Gaza's power supply.
So, where are these voices for justice and peace who are so vocal about Gazans and Palestinians? Where have they been over generations of persecution, occupation and real genocide of the Jewish people. The silence is deafening and just supports and perpetrates the continuing hate, death and antisemitism. The pain of all the suffering in this horrible conflict is debilitating, so please do not throw around words without understanding what they mean and their consequences.
"Silence is golden" and in these times condones actual "murderers".
Heading out to Starbucks for a cup of coffee.
-Brian Englebardt