Timnit Gebru (she/her).Nov 1, 2023

CNN talks about Palestinian deaths like its a natural disaster.

"Palestinian American family mourns 42 relatives killed in a single day in Gaza"

How exactly were they killed CNN? Was it an earthquake? A flood? Some sort of natural disaster? The number of videos I've seen of Palestinians who have lost entire generations of their families because they were bombed in their homes, facing western journalists with absolutely no empathy for them, is sickening.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/world/palestinian-american-family-relatives-killed-gaza/index.html

Show threadTimnit Gebru (she/her).Nov 1, 2023
A computer science professor was talking about his family member who was shot by IDF in the West Bank, and he had to preface that by saying "Hamas is not in the West Bank." The only thing another one of my fellow computer scientists had to say was "That's not true, there are many Hamas supporters in the West Bank." The dehumanization is so deep.
Show threadTom Bellin Nov 1, 2023
@timnitGebru Seeing the IDF murdering innocent people without repercussions might have something to do with the radicalization of the population. Just thinking out loud.
Show threadRichardNov 2, 2023
@tob @timnitGebru I don't really like that excuse. It can be claimed by any side in a conflict and is a justification for continually escalating, eye-for-eye vengeance.
Show threadTom Bellin Nov 2, 2023

@richard_merren @timnitGebru It's not an excuse. No one should support Hamas.

It's an explanation. One that accepts that people who support our enemies may have reasons that aren't evil.

If we refuse to accept any possibility that regular people might see Hamas as the "good guys" in this fight, then we will never be able to find a way through to peace.

Show threadAlexander The 1st
@tob @richard_merren @timnitGebru Right - I'm reminded that this seemed to be the issue in Afghanistan: "We occupied the government, and we've pushed out the Taliban, but every time we kill an Al-Qaeda target, the way we did it seemed to create about 5-10 more members for their efforts because we also took out innocents by accident in the process. Maybe the drone striking approach isn't as effective as we think it is...".
Nov 2, 2023 at 11:49amWeb
Show threadTom Bellin Nov 2, 2023

@AT1ST @richard_merren @timnitGebru The parallels with 9/11 and America's response to that attack are concerning. Looking back at those events should serve as a "what not to do" playbook.

As with 9/11, I fear the domestic political situation (and the desire to avoid being held responsible) is driving their decisions. Bibi feels he has to be seen as doing something.