What truths are you peddling ?
How the World Chose to Forget October 7th
Mercer-Wood.Solutions – KenViviality Impacts & Insights
By Chief Kenneth K. Mercer-Wood
đź“Ś Remembering October 7th
On October 7th, 2023, over 1,200 Israelis—most of them civilians—were brutally killed and hundreds taken hostage by Hamas in the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. This unprecedented massacre should have marked a unifying moral line for the international community. Instead, within weeks, global narratives distorted the events, demonizing Israel, and in many cases, whitewashing the terror that sparked its military response.
🔍 Definition of Genocide
According to the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, genocide means:
> “Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group…”
This includes:
Killing members of the group
Causing serious bodily or mental harm
Deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction
Imposing measures to prevent births
Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
⚖️ Has Israel Been Charged with Genocide?
Israel has not been charged with genocide, but it is facing allegations brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Genocide Convention.
These allegations are highly contested and Israel has strongly denied them.
Notably, the ICJ has not ruled that Israel is committing genocide. The court’s provisional ruling urged caution but did not affirm any genocide had occurred.
🔄 The Misinformation Machine: Why So Many Distortions?
1. Ideological Bias: Many institutions and activists reflexively frame Israel as an oppressor, ignoring context.
2. Social Media Amplification: Unverified and staged footage spreads quickly, fueling anti-Israel sentiment.
3. Erasure of October 7th: Little global media attention remains on the atrocities that triggered the war.
4. Double Standards: Military actions by other states, such as in Syria or Yemen, are often ignored, while Israel faces immediate condemnation.
⚔️ Ad Bellum vs. In Bello: Understanding the Legal Framework
Term Definition Application to Israel
Jus ad bellum The right to go to war. A war is lawful if it is fought in self-defense. Israel’s war began after a clear act of aggression – the October 7th attacks – widely seen as fulfilling the legal requirement of self-defense.
Jus in bello Law in war. Refers to how a war is fought. Even lawful wars must be fought proportionately and distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel argues its actions in Gaza are aimed at degrading Hamas’ capabilities, while critics argue about proportionality and civilian impact.
⚖️ The Complex Legal & Moral Truth
1. Israel’s Dilemma: Hamas embeds itself within civilian areas (hospitals, schools, tunnels), forcing difficult tactical decisions.
2. Civilians vs. Combatants: Israel uses warning systems (leaflets, calls), yet civilian deaths occur due to Hamas’ tactics.
3. Humanitarian Crisis: Gaza faces grave conditions, but attributing sole responsibility to Israel ignores Hamas’ role in diverting aid and endangering civilians.
4. Double Warfare: Israel fights a military battle and a narrative war, where facts are twisted into propaganda.
🧠What the World Must Remember
October 7th was real: Documented atrocities, rape, and hostage-taking occurred. Silence or justification is complicity.
Truth Matters: War is ugly, but distortion of facts undermines justice for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Genocide must not be politicized: Real genocides, past and present, demand seriousness. Allegations must be evidenced, not weaponized.
đź“Ž Summary
> The truth of October 7th has been manipulated, and Israel is facing allegations, not convictions, of genocide. The legal debate hinges on intent and conduct during war. Hamas’ actions and propaganda tactics play a significant role in shaping global perception. The world must remember the massacre, critically examine sources, and apply international law fairly.
đź“ŤBranded & Published by The Editor Mercer-Wood.Solutions Inc.
