Israeli defense minister says imminent order will be given to attack Gaza
Conflict between Israel and Palestine reaches new heights as defense minister prepares imminent order to attack Gaza
20 October 2023
In an ongoing conflict that has lasted 13 days so far, more than 5200 people have been killed on both sides including 3859 Palestinians and over 1400 Israelis. The Rafah crossing, connecting Gaza, remains closed as of April 19. In the midst of this chaos, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has announced that an imminent order will be given to attack Gaza. This decision has sparked widespread reactions on Chinese social media platform Weibo with many netizens expressing their views and emotions.
The situation in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Palestine, has been a topic of great interest and concern among Chinese internet users. With the announcement by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, many have taken to Weibo to share their reactions and express their concerns about the ongoing conflict.
One netizen compared the current situation with the War of Resistance Against Japan during World War II, as shared by another netizen who witnessed the event and painted it. The comparison highlights the brutality of the Israeli bombings in Palestine, with one user commenting, "Lin Fen, Hong Tong" which translates to 'forest and hunger' in English, possibly indicating their perception of the situation as a helpless and painful one for both sides.
A video shared by Steel Seven Unbreakable7 on Weibo shows a small Palestinian girl rescued from the ruins with a still hopeful smile, wishing to visit China to learn about culture when she grows up. This heart-wrenching video has moved many netizens who expressed their sympathy and support for the innocent victims of the conflict.
A photo from 2008 in Gaza shows a man named Fadi Abu Salah, whose house was destroyed due to Israeli heavy bombings, leaving him paralyzed with no legs and his wife and children gone. Salah has been using an improvised catapult to throw stones at the Israeli Defense Forces, sparking discussions about the resilience and determination of Palestinian people in the face of adversity.
A Swedish environmental activist showed her support for Palestinians publicly, calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza. This has also led to some defections among the 'redneck' camp as well, indicating a shift in global sentiment towards the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Another shocking incident that emerged from the Weibo videos is the story of a family of 18 who died in an Israeli airstrike, with only one survivor cowering under a tree. The video sparked outrage among netizens, calling out the Israeli forces for their supposed 'low-key mistake'.
A toy store owner shared on Weibo that after Israel's air strike on Gaza, he recovered a Mickey Mouse and a Teddy bear from the ruins. The photographer asked if the dolls were from his shop, but the owner clarified they were 'captured' by Israeli soldiers at the border. This humorous anecdote has been shared widely on Weibo, highlighting the absurdity of the situation and providing some much-needed levity in a dire situation.
A Weibo user named AnNuan posed a thought-provoking question: if Palestine had access to military power like Israel, would they dare be so stubborn? This query has sparked discussions about the imbalance of power between Israel and Palestine, with some users expressing their admiration for the resilience and courage of the Palestinian people.
According to CCTV's website update at 10 am local time on October 20th, a total of 4,218 Palestinians had been killed in this round of clashes between Palestine and Israel, including more than 4,137 deaths in the Gaza Strip and over 12,000 injured. In the West Bank, over 81 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,400 injured.
Some Weibo users have expressed their concern about war crimes, torture, and crimes against humanity in the conflict, stating that these actions will be judged by history. Others have used more inflammatory language, calling out Israel's attack on Gaza as a 'cruel slaying', questioning their connection with America, and accusing them of provoking further conflict.
A Weibo user shared a heart-touching video of a little Palestinian girl rescued from the ruins, who wished to