Torn friendships: The Gaza conflict divides Berlin!

Torn friendships: The Gaza conflict divides Berlin!

in Berlin, as in many other cities, it is currently high. Since October 7, 2023, Hamas' attack on Israel has heated the minds and polarized society. The conflicts along the lines "Team Israel" and "Team Gaza" not only affect the political perspective, but also affect private relationships. This explosiveness is also reflected in the thought 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 intensified location in the Middle East.

The author worked in a hostel in Ramallah for half a year, where he not only discovered the beauty of the West Bank, but also closed friendships 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 unmistakable. These experiences have recently been overshadowed by the events in Gaza, which also led to violent discussions in his friends in Berlin. As the Tagesspiegel reports, tensions and disputes show that often lead to a split view.

The conflict and its effects

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

The occupying power is obliged to manage the area in the sense of the civilian population and respect existing laws, but that is often not happening. Many Palestinians suffer from the consequences of the crew - this is shown in the form of humanitarian crises and violence. Work to end these grievances are urgently necessary, as Amnesty emphasizes - this would require an end to the crew, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the dissolution of illegal settlements.

personal experiences

Back to the personal experiences of the author: In Berlin he met a friend who accused him of being one-sidedly pro-Israel. This led to lively discussions in which he realized that her perspective also deserves. The conflict of one's own attitude increasingly made relationships with friends. A discussion with Anas, the support of the "liberation of Palestine" and the glorifying contributions about the Hamas terror on Instagram finally brought the author to stop contact. A clear case of how differences can lead to unnecessary conflicts.

with Anas ’death a year ago in a car accident, the friendship left a gap that the author often regrets. It is a painful lesson about dealing with conflicts between friends who illustrates that you should not act impulsively, but need time to understand and process.

The discussion about the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, which is considered in response to the attacks of Hamas, is in full swing. Experts like Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg indicate the sometimes devastating civilian consequences and raise questions about the legitimacy of trade. It becomes clear that humanitarian international law is necessary as a yardstick to evaluate the complex situation and to focus on civilian victims.

A solution to the conflict seems far away. Nevertheless, there are numerous voices, such as that of Amnesty International, who call to find paths to minimize humanitarian disasters and human rights violations in the region. A termination of the crew could be a start to give both the Palestinian and Israelis hope for peace again.

In times like this it becomes clear how important it is not to avoid the discussions and be ready to listen. The view beyond your own box could be the key to build bridges in friendship as well as in society instead of building walls.