It’s incredible. To a man and woman the international leaders of the western powers - led by the imperialists - support the bombing of Gaza’s population, under the pretext that “Israel has the right to defend itself”. And then, once this bombing and shelling has killed and wounded many thousands, they say “we want humanitarian aid for innocent civilians”!

    So during the past 12 days of constant bombing and shelling there were no innocent civilians in Gaza? Only Hamas terrorists? Nobody can pretend this is true.

    Today, trapped Palestinians continue to be bombed and shelled. They were told to move south. But Khan Younis in the south was bombed yesterday, killing - among others - an extended family from the north of 30 kids and adults. Today another 200 or so have been killed - innocent civilians, small kids and babies...

    Then, yesterday, there was the shelling of the hospital in Gaza City. Yes, Gaza City in the centre of the Strip, where many innocent civilians had returned because the south is equally unsafe now. They said they preferred to die in their own homes. This particular shelling is being blamed by the Israeli government on Islamic Jihad... and Biden agrees. Those who know about these matters say otherwise.

    But it’s scarcely the point. This one-sided “war” waged by the Israeli state is already being fuelled, just like the war in Ukraine, by the imperialist powers. And we all know why. War, when recession is shrinking their economies, is a very effective alternative money machine for them.

    Yes, it was sparked by the Hamas militia’s atrocities against innocent Israelis living along the eastern border of Gaza. But let’s remember that terrorism is the action of the weak against the strong. There is a long history attached to this atrocity. There is a context. It excuses nothing, but it does explain it - and for the working class, this understanding is crucial.

    Indeed, the terrorist action of Hamas was predictable even if it wasn’t predicted. As long as the system of big powers supporting lesser powers who oppress whole populations continues, what else can be expected?

    The profits of the world’s multinationals depend entirely on this “order of things”. This order, which means poverty and repression for the majority, can only be ended by mass working class action, across all borders, across all divisions - including today’s divide between Israeli and Palestinian workers. This is the kind of fight which has to be prepared. It’s called class war.