A Panel on “The Gaza Genocide in Its First Year” Organized by the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Afyon Kocatepe University
A panel themed “The Gaza Genocide in Its First Year” was organized by the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) at Afyon Kocatepe University (AKU).
The event, held at the Sabri Bektöre Conference Hall as part of the 50th anniversary of FEAS, was attended by AKU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şuayıp Özdemir, Acting Dean of FEAS Prof. Dr. Gökhan Demirtaş, faculty members, and students. The panel, moderated by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şuayıp Özdemir, featured Prof. Dr. Mustafa Fişne, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and Dr. Zelkif Polat, a faculty member at FEAS, as panelists.
Economic Inequality in the Israel-Palestine Conflict
In his opening remarks, Acting Dean Prof. Dr. Gökhan Demirtaş mentioned that they had gathered to commemorate the tragedy of Gaza in its first year, stating, “We are in the 50th year of our faculty. Our professors have witnessed these 50 years. They will address the issue in all its aspects. Even though we are witnessing a tragic event, we have the experience to address it and shed light on the future. With deans, professors, and students together, I hope that one day, from the river to the sea, there will be a free Palestine where everyone can live freely.”
“35 Kilograms of Bombs Were Dropped Per Square Meter in Palestine”
Prof. Dr. Şuayıp Özdemir, who moderated the panel themed “The Gaza Genocide in Its First Year,” highlighted that 145 countries around the world have recognized Palestine and that with the recognition by the U.S. and the U.K., other countries would likely follow. Özdemir said, “Israel survives on U.S. aid. In August, the U.S. provided $3.5 billion in aid to Israel, and in September, nearly $9 billion. In 2015, Israel spent approximately $19 billion on defense. In the same year, the gross national product of Gaza and the West Bank combined was $14 billion. So, Israel’s defense spending exceeded the gross national product of Palestine.”
He further noted that 2.3 million people live in Gaza, with an average weight of 70 kg per person, and emphasized, “Every person in Gaza has had bombs dropped on them equal to half their body weight. Gaza is not a large area; its farthest point is 40 kilometers, and its widest point is 12 kilometers. Fighter jets run out of room to accelerate before reaching the other end. Thirty-five kilograms of explosives have been dropped per square meter. Israel’s political goal with this violence is to drive people away, but the people are not fleeing, and they continue to resist. They are not in despair.”
“Children in Gaza Grow Up Too Quickly and Do Not Experience Childhood”
Dr. Zelkif Polat, a faculty member at FEAS, provided insight into the “Historical, Religious, and Ideological Dimensions” of the Palestine issue. Polat stated, “As we entered the 21st century, we witnessed events where we could test the difference between humans and living beings. The latest of these is the Gaza issue, which has completed its first year before the eyes of the world. Children in Gaza do not experience childhood; they grow up too quickly. What makes children say things like, ‘I just want to die and rest’ or ‘Death is more just’? We view these deaths as mere statistics. Do we have any way of measuring the pain there?”
The International Aspect of the Palestine-Israel Conflict
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Fişne, discussing the international dimension of the Palestine-Israel conflict, noted that the attacks launched by Israel in response to the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7, 2023, quickly escalated into genocide. He stated, “Even in the 21st century, where international organizations have been established under the rhetoric of universal values and a certain legal order is supposed to be maintained, these atrocities are still being committed. We need to reexamine some of the fundamental characteristics of the current international relations system.”
Fişne further emphasized that the genocide committed since October 7, 2023, provides a realistic portrait of the international relations system, stating, “From now on, as states, as masses, or as individuals, I hope we will develop attitudes and worldviews that are grounded in this realistic portrait and form solid, grounded stances for the future.”
