Russian authorities and state media call the war in Ukraine a "special military operation". They do that to hide what's really going on: they lie to their people. We in Canada shake our heads and wonder how the Russian proletariat can be so easily duped. In civilized Canada we don't have to worry about those in power obfuscating the truth and manipulating us into turning a blind eye to a horrible war.

In the Holy Land the essence of the problem is that one side has stolen land from the other side and they aren't giving it back — but we can't say that. We have to call it an "occupation". And the people stealing the land and building suburbs are called "settlers", not thieves or murderers. Why are they the only people on the planet we call "settlers"? Are they all riding around in conestoga wagons?

Our media has repeatedly told us how many Jews were murdered in the Palestinian raid on October 7th. Every broadcast reminded us so we would never forget the enormity of lives lost. But how many Palestinians fighters died in that raid? And more importantly, why haven't you heard that number?

You would think the number wouldn't be very high. Surely the cowardly plan was to kill all the innocent civilians you can, grab some hostages and run home to the tunnels. Though many Israelis probably have guns, you would still think maybe a couple hundred dead, but nowhere near all the Jews they massacred. That's what you're supposed to think.

The Palestinian death toll was higher, 300 souls higher. Israel said they counted the bodies of at least 1500 dead jihadists. Seems it wasn't just a hit and run, many stayed and died. Why didn't that number get drilled into our heads? I never heard it once on the radio or TV. This is lying by omission, it's all about what you don't say. There's no need to mention how many young men sacrificed their lives for their freedom. That's not the story, Israel is the only victim here.

Clearly we can see whose side Canada is on. Our state media is no more subtle than the Russian state media. Israel gets to write the script and it gets recited for us to memorize. Why do we let that happen? Aren't we on the wrong side of history here?

In 2006 the Palestinians of Gaza voted in Hamas. Israel then blockaded Gaza by land, sea and air. The UN considers that one of the principal motives behind the imposition of the blockade was to punish the people of Gaza for having elected Hamas. Dov Weisglass, a senior advisor to the then prime minister of Israel, said the goal was to put the people of Gaza "on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger."

Israelis have Gazans outnumbered and outgunned. Eventually Gazans, assuming they're rational people, will figure out it's best to kow-tow and get rid of Hamas. Surely Israel's cunning strategy of economic warfare has to work. What could go wrong?

Israel limited imports and nearly all exports, and drove the Gaza Strip's economy to near-collapse. Before the current war: more than 65% of Gaza's population lived under the poverty line; with 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance; 63% of people were "food insecure" and 60% of children were anaemic.

Over 17 years things deteriorated to the point that electricity was only available for a few hours a day. Imagine living in a crowded tenement on a muggy 30ºC summer night without even an electric fan. The intermittent municipal water tasted as if it came from the sea. It's unfit for drinking, cooking, taking a shower or watering your garden. Before October 7th, 12% of the deaths of young children were linked to intestinal infections related to contaminated water and 50% of Gaza’s children suffered from water-related infections.

Imagine yourself a 17-year-old Gazan. For your whole life you've been a prisoner of Israel. Last summer, youth unemployment was 70%, and you had no future, no hope. Through the internet you could see how the rest of the world lived, but that was forbidden for you. What could be a more pitiful existence than that?

Just when you think things couldn't get worse — everything around you gets turned into rubble. Compared to this winter, last summer would be the good old days. Now you, your family and even your pets are all huddled together on death row, not knowing when the executioner will come. What soothing words is a mother going to say to get her children to sleep with bombs raining down on them? How can anyone explain away the hatred and horror inflicted upon them. I've always suffered from anxiety, and I've never been in a war. I can't imagine what those kids are going through. And I bet it's worse for the adults.

How could we have let this collective punishment drag on for 17 years? Shouldn't we have spoken up? If Israel really is our friend, shouldn't we be screaming at them right now — telling them they're doing something really stupid, that can not end well. If your friend was blind drunk on revenge, would you give him the keys to the car?

Giving every Gazan PTSD or death may well be the 'crime of the century'. Our government and media twisted the truth and are complicit in this debacle. But what about everybody else? Can we be blamed for having faith in our elected leaders and trusting the CBC? Israeli President Isaac Herzog said of Gaza: "It’s an entire nation out there that is responsible. This rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved, it’s absolutely not true. They could’ve risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime."

When the historians finally reveal the guilty ones will it be as Super Tramp said:
"Who are these men of lust, greed and glory?
Rip off the masks and let's see
But that's not right, oh, no, what's the story?
But there's you and there's me"