Response: How the Murder of Four Teens Started a War

The article, How the Murder of Four Teens Started a War, by Patricia Smith discusses, how four innocent killings sparked a seven-week battle between Israel and Hamas. There has been conflicts between them for six decades. It all started after World War II, when the U.N. wanted to divide the region along the eastern Mediterranean that had been the Jewish ancient homeland. There is still a lot of tension, and the smallest move can create a enormous conflict.

The four boys, Israelis Naftali Fraenkel; Gilad Shaar; Eyal Yifrach; and Muhammad Abu Khdeir, were all killed in a very brutal way. Smith uses loaded words to describe their horrific deaths. For example, she states, “...Khdeir was bludgeoned with  a wrench and then set on fire.” She wants the reader to feel violated and upset over their deaths. Smith wants the reader to feel sympathy for these boys. To further prove her point, she uses the quote from Khdeir’s cousin, “His life was still ahead of him and here in one minute, extremists who hate Arabs, who hate peace, came in and cut short his whole life.” Smith wants the reader to realize how much hate both sides possess, and how all this hate has caused so much problems. Smith also uses  quote from Israeli prime minister, “They were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by beasts. Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay.” She wants the reader to see that both sides are really against each other, and because of it, they can’t see past the hate. All they want is revenge.

Both sides are so angry, they don’t realize all the problems they are causing. Both Israelis and Hamas, think the other side is at fault when, both sides are causing destruction and hate. The fact of the matter is, both sides are going to extremes to hurt the other. They are both just trying to prove a point, and aren't realizing the harm they are causing. I think that both sides, have flaws, but don’t realize it. These four killings should not have happened. What could have been resolved so easily, has now resulted in a massacre, with thousands of people dead on both sides.