Their existential conflict has ruined the lives of generations of Palestinians and Israelis since 1948. We have grieved immeasurable loss for decades and, at times, we have held faint hope, but at no point in recent memory has the situation been as devastating as it is today. The barbaric attacks by Hamas terrorists on October 7 rank among the worst acts of terror ever committed against civilians. The excessive cruelty displayed by the terrorists, especially towards women and children, is unfathomable. More than 100 hostages are still being held today, their fate unknown.

In the wake of the attack, the Israeli military has launched an air, sea and ground campaign in Gaza which has killed, in a conservative estimate, over 30,000 people, the vast majority of which are civilians. It has further obliterated large swaths of the urban landscape, destroyed hospitals, schools and other vital parts of civilian infrastructure and displaced 80% of Gaza’s population.

This is not, and has never been, a conflict among equals. Yes, it is a human conflict between two peoples who believe, to their cores, that they are entitled to the same piece of land. But the way the conflict has been waged and continues to be waged today is one of profound asymmetry. Palestinians do not have a functional, unified government, let alone an army. The despicable Hamas terrorists do not represent the Palestinian people as a whole. The current Israeli government, on the other hand, led by a corrupt and embattled Netanyahu, has, on paper at least, a democratic mandate. Its army is powerful and enjoys the – so far – largely unconditional support of the largest military in the world. The utter disregard towards the protection of civilian life displayed by the Israeli government since October, especially in conjunction with racist anti-Palestinian rhetoric, is cruel and deserves widespread condemnation.

Yes, Israel is entitled to defend itself against terrorism, but no, Israel is not entitled to eradicate, starve, and displace an entire people in the process.

We need a durable ceasefire immediately, so that desperately needed aid can reach the Palestinian refugees in Gaza. Hamas must release the remaining hostages now and lay down their arms. Israel must stop its campaign, refrain from attacking Rafah and allow a viable corridor for humanitarian aid. And we need both sides to come back to the negotiating table. After so much bloodshed and unimaginable loss, there really is only one realistic, solution: two states, autonomous within their territories; the end of settlements in the Westbank and a commitment to a lasting peace from both sides. We are out of time, and future generations will never forgive us if we fail, again.

Daniel Barenboim

The article was published in DIE ZEIT on Thursday, March 14, 2024