I am reliably informed that yesterday was Holi (Dolyatra, Doul Jatra, Basanta-Utsav), the Hindu festival of colours that celebrates the arrival of spring and the end of winter, hope for a good harvest, and fertility. It also celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
I was alerted to this by Zarah Sultana sending best wishes on Facebook to everyone celebrating Holi. We have all become very multi-faith in our greetings, and rightly so. There was a time when the only religious festivals we knew or cared about were Christmas and Easter.
I’ve tried to find that Zarah Sultana post again but all to no avail. Maybe it’s been removed because some of the comments were rather mean.
But just as we need a bit of spring colour to brighten up what has so far been a dull and dismal year, we could all do with a bit of triumph of good over evil at the moment, just about all over the world I think.
The UN has finally managed to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza - the us abstained from voting instead of vetoing it, as has been their practice so far. Not actually voting FOR it - that might send the wrong message to some people!
This is apparently the response of the Israeli minister of national security:
"The Israeli minister of national security, Itamar Ben Gabir, in response to the UN security council resolution said:
"The decision of the UN Security Council proves what has been known since time immemorial - this is an anti-Semitic institution, with an anti-Semitic Secretary General, who is encouraging Hamas towards total victory. President Biden’s choice, on the other hand, to avoid vetoing the decision on the part of the USA, proves on the other hand that President Biden does not put the victory of Israel and the free world over terrorism at the top of his priorities, but rather his political considerations. Precisely after this decision, we must increase the intensity of the war and continue striving with all our might, at any cost, to defeat Hamas."
And so the bombing and shelling and starving goes on. Israel won’t let UNRWA distribute aid. Lorries are lined up, waiting to cross the border. In the meantime, rather like putting a small sticking plaster over a knife wound that needs proper medical attention, air drops of aid are taking place, black parachutes dropping pathetically small parcels nro Gaza beach1.
"AFP (Agence France-Press) has spoken to two people in Gaza about the humanitarian aid they are receiving by air-drop.
One of them, Mohamad al-Sabaawi, returning from an attempt to retrieve some air-dropped parcels, told the news agency “People are dying just to get a can of tuna. The situation is tragic, as if we are in a famine. What can we do? They mock us by giving us a small can of tuna.”
The agency said dozens of black parachutes carrying food aid had landed on the ground where almost no building within sight was still standing, and hungry men and boys raced towards the beach where most of the aid seemed to have landed. Al-Sabaawi was carrying an almost empty bag on his shoulder.
Another Palestinian man, returning home in Gaza City with little to keep his family going, said their situation was miserable.
“We are the people of Gaza, waiting for aid drops, willing to die to get a can of beans - which we then share among 18 people,” he said."
And yet I heard an Israeli spokesman on television last night declaring quite categorically that there is no starvation in Gaza! He brushed aside questions about the photos of emaciated children.
And today I read that Israel has withdrawn its negotiators fro the Qatar”
“Israel recalls negotiators from Qatar, claiming Hamas 'not interested' in talks and lamenting 'damage' caused by UN ceasefire vote
Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar, ending immediate attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The move comes in the wake of a UN security council vote demanding a ceasefire, and Hamas rejecting the latest proposals.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that “Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands.”
It said the Hamas position was “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution.”
Late on Monday evening Hamas has issued a statement rejecting the latest deal offer, saying Israel was not responding to its core demands of a “comprehensive ceasefire, an withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.””
And so, un resolutions or no, I don’t feel optimistic about anything stopping soon.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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