Truth cannot be hidden

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A California physician who works for Doctors Without Borders and just returned from Gaza was interviewed on BBC World News America. She readily admitted that during her months in Gaza not a day passed that she had not been reduced to tears.

The severity of the medical cases that she handled, and the desperation of the Palestinian people, were worse than any other assignment she had experienced during her 16 years with the humanitarian organisation. The doctor was very concerned about 160,000 children of northern Gaza unable to receive their second shots of the polio vaccine, due to intense bombardment by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

Those children are caught in the midst of IDF’s ruthless scorched earth policy to eliminate Hamas terror cells, and so many have became collateral damage by indiscriminate bombing. The doctor was asked if she had seen any terrorist activities in the hospitals where she worked, and replied that she had not. Next item on the BBC newscast was a report from Lebanon where the reporter and camera crew filmed inside Al Sahel Hospital in Beirut. Israel claims that millions of dollars in cash and gold belonging to the Hezbollah terrorists are stashed in a bunker there. The BBC went through the entire building with free access to every room, opening drawers and lockers, including two levels below ground; nothing was found except medical supplies and equipment.

There is no dispute that Israel has every right to defend itself against terrorist groups in Gaza and Lebanon, but at the same time there is so much disinformation from political leaders all sides of the conflict, and plenty more in mainstream and social media. The ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus famously said: “In war, the first casualty is the truth” – 2,500 years later the situation is exacerbated by multitudes of influencers having their say on the internet, and with everybody and his brother having a podcast to relay all kinds of personal agendas spreading propaganda.

A search on Google is often necessary to find out who is behind the various media websites and news sources, and am thankful that the BBC is frequently listed as one of the world’s most unbiased and trustworthy sources. It looks like this latest Holy War will continue indefinitely; until there are no more bombs to drop, and the dust finally settles. The future looks mighty bleak for the people of Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, but perhaps there is a sliver of hope from another wandering preacher about 2,500 years ago. It was the Buddha who said: “Three things cannot be hidden; the sun, the moon and the truth”.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada