Officials of the UN, the International Court of Justice and human rights organizations claim that there is substantial evidence showing Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. ("Rights expert finds 'reasonable grounds' genocide being committed in Gaza") s.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147976
Israeli officials deny the charges of war crimes, saying the military is "precise" with the bombing attacks and efforts are made to avoid civilians. And in general, they stress that Israel has a right to self-defense in the wake of the horrific October 7 attack.
"I understand that Israel has a right to self-defense," said Sakakini, "but this is way beyond self-defense, way beyond. You know when we went into Afghanistan, did we bomb everybody that lived there? No, we didn't. We went there and took out the guys we needed to take out... Killing 30,000 civilians is not justified under self-defense."
Often Israeli officials maintain that if civilians were killed in an attack, it was either a mistake, Hamas rockets had been fired from the area, or there were Hamas terrorists mixed in with the civilians and the killing of the civilians was unavoidable.
Sakakini responds, "Israel will use anything as an excuse. If the bird flies the wrong way, they'll use that as an excuse to target civilians."
He added, "The funny part is, in the United States people will believe everything Israel says. Nobody believes what other people say like Amnesty International, the United Nations or other human rights groups -- what their reports show."
Since the Gaza war began, passions have been running high in the United States with widespread demonstrations taking place in support of the Palestinians. But there's also been considerable support voiced for Israel.
A number of cities around the country have seen efforts by pro-Palestinian groups to pass cease-fire resolutions to stop the war, but there's been fierce pushback by advocates for Israel.
In the nearby city of Bridgeport, a cease-fire resolution was passed by the City Council after weeks of debate. Passionate speeches were made both for and against the resolution at the public forums prior to the council meetings. One night, a heated argument erupted at the end of the forum, and police had to be called in to keep it from getting out of hand.
Sakakini was asked if there had been any problems at his restaurant as a result of ongoing anger over the war.
"In the beginning after October 7 happened, there were some issues," he said. "One guy came in and shouted, 'I don't support Palestine!' and then spit on the floor and walked out." There were other people, as well, who walked out after seeing the Palestinian flag by the door.
"It's funny," said Johnny. "I've had that big flag by the door for six years. All those years it didn't bother anyone. After October 7 it becomes an issue for some people. But it is what it is. I am a Palestinian. I support my country. If you want to support Israel and the soldiers, go to the McDonald's up the street and support them."
(McDonald's has been criticized for supporting the Israeli government by advocates of the movement to boycott Israeli goods and disinvest in Israel.)
But Sakakini noted that many people have come to his business and expressed support for the Palestinians. He recalled one day when a lady came in with her children.
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