Only the people can prevent tragedies like Gaza

The tragedy unfolding in Gaza today in front of the eyes of the world will no doubt be remembered as one of the darkest moments in the history of conflict. Never in modern history have so many innocent civilians been killed so quickly or the infrastructure of an entire territory destroyed so comprehensively.

We must look back to the natural disaster causing famine in Ethiopia in 1984 to see such tragedy taking the lives of 1 million people, leaving 200,000 orphans and displacing millions in a country of 40 million.

At that time the world came together in empathy and aid to Ethiopians, most memorably with the song “We Are the World” which brought together the greatest artists of the time, who helped express the pain of the world through voices that touched Africa and indeed the globe.

Today’s war in Gaza — in contrast, one created by mankind —  has not witnessed anyone singing their support to Palestinians in the enclave.

Most nauseatingly, the disaster in Gaza, and the deaths of 34,000 innocent people, have been brought about by a handful of cynical leaders who understand nothing of love, hurt, dignity or respect.

Somehow, Israeli politicians have found a way to negate all human rights and international conventions, unleashing savagery and hatred despite the memory of what happened to their own people during the Holocaust.

The words sung by the artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, in 1985 are as follows: “We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving. There’s a choice we’re making, we’re saving our own lives. It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me.”

The emotions expressed then seem so far removed from the world and the situation we are living in today.

The tragic reality in Gaza is that today children are maimed running away from the bombs and running for the rare deliveries of food from the outside world; running from one supposed shelter to another.

This is all happening right next door and in front of our eyes, yet no one seems to take it in. Where are the artists of the world who should be singing never again to what has been happening in Gaza for almost seven months? Instead, we are debating whether Israel can continue the slaughter, go ahead and attack the last supposed safe place in Rafah, and continue starving Palestinians in Gaza to death. Where are the Israelis bringing maimed children from Gaza to their hospitals to give them an artificial leg or arm?

What we need to see is healing. If the politicians do not listen, we must find ways to amputate the invisible hand, with anesthesia.

Such moments of tragedy and massive suffering should be the time when humanity stands up and shows its best. Is our world no longer united by empathy? Have we lost our voices? How can we watch such death and destruction on television news and simply change the channel?

However, a growing number of people in the West, and in the US in particular, are finally finding their consciences and voices. Already disillusioned with their not-so-democratic political systems and institutions, they are realizing that their leaders refuse to budge from their cynical positions, no doubt directed by dark invisible hands and money, so the people are taking their protest into the streets.

As university students rally to the cause of peace, the invisible hand is seeing them expelled and university presidents removed, simply for protesting for peace.

I am again reminded of the multiple Oscar-winning 1976 movie “Network,” which depicts TV news anchor Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, letting his anger and frustration explode on air. He taps into a pervasive but as yet unspoken sentiment, urging viewers to get up, open their windows and yell after him: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.” This is what I believe many other people feel inside today.

I do not take pleasure in mentioning these things to make a point, but the disconnect between voters and their representatives has grown to such an extent that every voter now realizes how their hopes and empathy are being corrupted by the money and influence that lies behind their representatives.

We do not want a revolution; we simply want people to remind their leaders how democracy works, by expressing themselves and their opposition to the way their votes have been taken by the dark invisible hands corrupting politics.

Democracy in Greek literally means “power of the people,” and I believe this is what we are trying to remind our leaders. When the people demand peace and tell their leaders enough is enough, those leaders would do well to listen.

What we need to see is healing. If the politicians do not listen, we must find ways to amputate the invisible hand, with anesthesia. Ultimately the people must, through audacity and bravery, reclaim the voices they gave away to representatives who distorted them.

The people must be ready to build a new world order in which the true participation of the public, and its empathy, prevents tragedies like today’s war in Gaza from ever happening again.

• Hassan bin Youssef Yassin worked closely with Saudi Arabia’s petroleum ministers Abdullah Tariki and Ahmed Zaki Yamani from 1959 to 1967. He led the Saudi Information Office in Washington from 1972 to 1981 and served with the Arab League’s observer delegation to the UN from 1981 to 1983.