Monday Musings: An Epitaph to Journalism
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By Amitabh Srivastava| Edited by Adam Rizvi, The India Observer (TIO): The recent demand by Türkiye for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have put the Indian leadership in a bind.
As is well known, Türkiye has sought an international arrest warrant for Netanyahu, accusing him of “genocide” over Israel’s attack in May on activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying relief and aid for victims in Gaza.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek claims that arrest warrants were issued on July 14 for Netanyahu and another suspect. The charges, among others, include genocide, crimes against humanity and torture, as part of a case against 35 people over the Israeli interception of the flotilla.
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“In line with the arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu … our Justice Ministry has requested that the Interior Ministry issue [Interpol] red notices for them so that they may be sought internationally,” Gürlek said.
NATO member Türkiye has been one of the fiercest critics of Israel’s war on Gaza and has previously issued domestic arrest warrants for Netanyahu over Israel’s attacks. Türkiye has also repeatedly called for international measures against Israel over what Ankara describes as violations of human rights and international law. Israel denies those charges.
In May, Israeli forces fired on at least two vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing towards Gaza. Türkiye is not the only country protesting against Israel’s actions.
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France, Italy and Australia have also launched judicial proceedings over these violations. The activists were tortured, according to accounts that emerged following their detention.
“We will not allow the crimes committed in Gaza to be covered up or those responsible to be protected by a shield of impunity,” the statement added.
As usual, the Indian government has totally abdicated its responsibility in such matters because the MEA cannot make up its mind whether to stand by the BJP’s favourite go-to country, Israel, or support its newly found ally, Türkiye, notwithstanding the fact that Türkiye had openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, launched by India after innocent tourists in Kashmir were killed by terrorists from Pakistan.
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But why blame the government alone? I still remember how the media also played a dubious role during that crisis, citing ethical concerns.
Of all the papers, The New York Times—the upholder of freedom of the press in the world—after a six-hour editorial meeting, refused to use a picture of innocent children killed by an Israeli attack on a hospital in Gaza that displayed the gruesome reality.
I had written a poem about this at that time, in 2023, which I would like to share again today.
Epitaph to Journalism
(It lies buried here)
These little angels were bombed. While they were in the safest abode—a hospital.
The sight was unnerving.
Someone from the hospital covered the bodies of these children in Gaza, hoping parents or relatives would come and carry them away for burial, maybe mourn for them privately.
But the media did not like the idea.
How could they? They wanted the Best Picture Award.
And so they opened up the faces under the white sheet.
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The sight shocked them.The children looked in deep, peaceful slumber,and even dreaming, as their smiles showed.
Until you noticed the blood and the missing part of the skull.
Newspaper editors refused to use the picture.
It did not convey the fear, the trauma, the last-minute gasps for breath.
And so we wait for another occasion, another bombing, or better still, slaughter with a sword, or shooting from close quarters.
Let’s hope for the best.
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Another sector that went totally missing from the scene was the NGO sector, whose numbers run into lakhs in India.
For me, the deliberate bombing of hospitals or schools resulting in the deaths of children, be it in Gaza or anywhere else, should have united all child-rights NGOs to condemn such killings, take out candlelight marches and organise rallies outside the embassies of offending countries.
But they are so dependent on the doles issued by the government in power that they dare not go against a government that does not know where it stands whenever the human rights of children and youth are violated, be it in India or Gaza.
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Also Read more from this Author: Monday Musings: Stories of Grit, Guts and Gumption
Curated By Humra Kidwai
