Showing utter contempt for the universal condemnation of their brutal assault on Gaza, the murderous Zionist forces, openly backed by the US imperialists, are continuing with their dastardly war against the Palestinian people for the third week as we go to press. At the same time, the indomitable Palestinian people, braving indescribable hardship, have refused to surrender or give up their resolve to fight for their homeland.

After bombing the impoverished Gaza strip for days on end, Israeli military forces amassed tanks and began a ground assault into Gaza. The Gaza strip is a small stretch of land enclosed by Israel on three sides and the sea on the other.  In this strip of land, roughly 40 Km long and 5-8 Km wide, 1.5 million Palestinians live in terrible conditions. Ever since Hamas won the elections in the Gaza strip in 2006, Israel with the support of the US has refused to recognise their government.  It has organised an economic blockade, as well as launched repeated military strikes, with the aim of subjugating the Palestinians. The Zionists have openly proclaimed that their intention is to eliminate this government, since Hamas has steadfastly held that its aim was to fight against the US-backed Zionists for the full sovereignty and national rights of the Palestinian people.

The state of Israel was created by the Anglo-American imperialists in the aftermath of the Second World War as a fascist state with the aim of defending imperialist interests in the region.  It was established by evicting the Palestinian people from their land. Since then, the Israeli Zionists have defended their unjust occupation with fire and sword, with the complete support of the US imperialists. The Palestinian people have been forced to live in refugee camps in neighbouring the states or as people with no rights in their own land. Armed to the teeth by the imperialists, the Zionists have unleashed several wars against the Palestinian and other Arab peoples, and have grabbed and occupied even more land than was originally handed over to them by the Anglo-American imperialists in the middle of the last century.

In addition to direct attacks, the Zionists and Anglo-American imperialists have also used sabotage, intrigue and every dirty trick in the book to terrorise and divide the Arab peoples. These include planting of bombs in other Arab states, and assassination and murder of innocent people, accompanied by prolonged campaigns of disinformation. Indeed, the undercover agencies of the highly militarised and fascized Zionist state are notorious for their dastardly deeds of terrorism. This terror of the Israeli Zionist state is fully supported especially by various imperialist powers.  The US imperialist in particular have used their veto power in the UN Security Council on innumerable occasions, including at the present time, to block actions against or even meaningful censure of Israeli terrorism by the world body.

While the Israeli Zionists have never accepted the right of Palestinians to have their own homeland, the brave Palestinian people have never given up their struggle for it either. They have won the respect and admiration of freedom-loving people all over the world with their ‘never say die’ fighting spirit. At the present time, people in virtually every country of the globe have come out on the streets to demand an end to the murderous assault by the Zionists.

Peoples’ Voice condemns the Israeli government for carrying out its bestial offensive and for violating the sovereignty of the Palestinian National Authority.  The working people of India wish the brave Palestinian people victory in their struggle.