Over the weekend Iran sent a warship to the Red Sea. It could be in response to the US attacking and killing 10 Houthi fighters when the Houthi’s have not killed anyone on the freighters they have captured. It could also be a warning to the US and other world powers that are threatening attacks on Yemen if the Houthi’s do not cease their blockade of Israeli ships in the Red Sea, which is their response to Israel’s genocide of innocent Palestinians. As I wrote in a previous blog post, there is definite escalation toward a war if the US does not back down. A war is indeed a brewin’.
US officials need a long lesson on geography, because the US is nowhere near the Red Sea. US ships should be located in waters around America because the US IS NOT AT WAR. There is no need for a US naval presence around Middle Eastern waters because the US IS NOT AT WAR. The presence of a significant amount of US warships is extremely threatening, and the fact that the US is engaging and killing Houthi fighters has now drastically increased the escalation possibility of other nations. Now they have justification to retaliate against US warships.
There is a possibility the US hopes to enter a war. The assurances from the White House and the State Department are meaningless because the actions the US government has taken are counter to their statements. There is a possibility that President Biden might push for war so he can win reelection. A war between the US and another country would shift the focus from other issues, which would be the point of antagonizing other countries into a war.
While the waters in the Red Sea are churning from threats of war, bombings in Gaza and Lebanon are not stopping. Though Israel might be pulling some troops out of Gaza, Israel’s siege is not diminishing. Even with the Genocide Convention case against Israel in the ICJ, Israel is continuing with their decimation and massacre of innocent Palestinians. Just today Red Crescent buildings were attacked.
Two top Israeli officials (Smotrich and Ben-Gvir) have advised Palestinians to leave Gaza. Israel couldn’t be more clear at what they want- land. They have made Gaza unlivable with the intent of annexation, so now they are telling Palestinians to leave in order for Israel to take complete control.
Despite having a genocide case against them, Israel has increased bombings of Lebanon and killed a top Hamas official along with five other people in a suburb of Beirut. There are daily attacks on Lebanon, and Lebanese officials are labeling these bombings as attempts at escalation from Israel. Hezbollah is threatening Israel with warnings they will fight and have already retaliated with a bombardment on IDF troops. Israel is refusing to accept responsibility for their attack on Beirut. There are concerns that with Israel pulling troops from Gaza, these troops could be redistributed into a greater attack on Lebanon.
If world leaders do not take action and embargo or sanction Israel, they will not stop. The threat of a Genocide Convention is not deterring Israel, but profits and access to goods will deter Israel as it does every nation when sanctions or embargoes are placed against them. It’s hard to witness the weakness of world leaders at the hands of the US who is clearly pulling the economic strings and threatening, bullying, or influencing world leaders into inaction. Malaysia stands as the only country to embargo on Israel.
Qatar won’t because the US just signed a 10 year extension on a huge base in Qatar. The UAE won’t because the UAE is aiding the terrorist group RSF in Sudan. The US will stay out of the war in Sudan and not hold the UAE accountable for their role in arming the RSF, and the UAE won’t hold Israel accountable. For other countries it is the threat of losing contracts or deals with the US and the reward of more contracts or deals with their country if the leader’s remain inactive.
Please demand an embargo and sanctions on Israel.
Please demand an embargo and sanctions on the US.
With an embargo or sanctions, this would lead to a permanent ceasefire and a means to hold Israel and the US accountable.
Israel and the US will not allow a ceasefire until they have been monetarily affected. That is why the BDS boycotts against Israeli companies are important and proves that withholding money does have an affect.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
Protest. Boycott. Call for an embargo and sanctions. BE UNGOVERNABLE. Vote 3rd party. Volunteer. Donate. Share the stories from Gaza. Share the news from Gaza. Share the history of Gaza. Please extend the same energy to other countries and people facing genocide and atrocities- Sudan, Congo, the Rohingyas, West Papua, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.
Articles used for reference (please read and share):
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-warship-alborz-enters-red-sea-tasnim-2024-01-01/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-slams-israeli-ministers-statements-resettlement-palestinians-outside-gaza-2024-01-02/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/jan/02/israel-gaza-war-live-israeli-military-kills-four-alleged-palestinian-militants-in-west-bank-idf-says