Torn friendships: The Gaza conflict is dividing Berlin!

Torn friendships: The Gaza conflict is dividing Berlin!

In Berlin, as in many other cities, things are really busy at the moment. Since October 7, 2023, Hamas' attack on Israel has heated up tempers and polarized society. The conflicts along the lines of “Team Israel” and “Team Gaza” not only affect political perspectives, but also affect private relationships. This explosiveness is also reflected in the thoughts of a young author who spent a summer in Berlin after graduating from high school before traveling to Ramallah. Here he began to gain deeper insights into the worsening situation in the Middle East.

The author worked for six months in a hostel in Ramallah, where he not only discovered the beauty of the West Bank, but also made friends that shaped his thinking. Anas, his best friend, led him through cities like Jericho, Bethlehem, Nablus and Hebron, where the effects of the Israeli occupation were obvious. These experiences have recently been overshadowed by the events in Gaza, which also led to heated discussions in his circles of friends in Berlin. As the Tagesspiegel reports, there are tensions and disputes that often lead to divided views.

The conflict and its effects

The already tense relations between Israelis and Palestinians have worsened since the Hamas attack. Amnesty International emphasizes that the occupation of the Palestinian territories, which has been going on for 56 years, violates international humanitarian law. In December 2022, the UN General Assembly also commissioned the International Court of Justice to review the legal basis of this occupation, which will be discussed further in a public hearing next week.

The occupying power is obliged to manage the area in the interests of the civilian population and to respect existing laws, but this is often not what happens. Many Palestinians are suffering from the consequences of the occupation - this is evident in the form of humanitarian crises and violence. Work to end these abuses is urgent, as Amnesty emphasizes - this would require an end to the occupation, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the dismantling of illegal settlements.

Personal experiences

Back to the author's personal experiences: In Berlin he met a friend who accused him of his view of the conflict being one-sidedly pro-Israel. This led to lively discussions in which he recognized that their perspective also deserved understanding. The conflict over one's own attitude made relationships with friends increasingly difficult. A particularly painful argument was with Anas, whose support for the “liberation of Palestine” and glorifying posts about Hamas terror on Instagram ultimately led the author to break off contact. A clear case of how differences can lead to unnecessary conflict.

With Anas' death in a car accident a year ago, the friendship left a gap that the author often regrets. It's a painful lesson about dealing with conflicts between friends that shows you that you shouldn't act impulsively, but that you need time to understand and process.

The discussion about the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, which is seen as a response to Hamas attacks, is now in full swing. Experts like Wolff Heintschel from Heinegg point out the sometimes devastating civil consequences and raise questions about the legitimacy of the trade. It becomes clear that international humanitarian law is necessary as a benchmark to assess the complex situation and to focus on the civilian victims.

A solution to the conflict seems far away. However, there are numerous voices, such as those from Amnesty International, calling for ways to minimize the humanitarian disasters and human rights violations in the region. Ending the occupation could be a start to restoring hope for peace to both Palestinians and Israelis.

In times like these, it becomes clear how important it is not to shy away from discussions and to be willing to listen. Looking beyond your own horizon could be the key to building bridges in friendships and society instead of erecting walls.