Palestinian Americans, Dismayed by Violence, Say Historical Context Is Being Overlooked – The New York Times

As news spread over the weekend that gunmen from Hamas, the Palestinian faction that governs the Gaza Strip, had killed hundreds and taken hostages in a surprise attack on Israel, Zarefah Baroud watched in horror from Seattle.

Ms. Baroud, a doctoral student and activist who is Palestinian American, said she felt deep sadness for the Israelis who were killed and kidnapped. And she was immediately worried that those killings would be used to justify genocide against Palestinians.

On Monday, Ms. Baroud managed to reach a younger cousin in Gaza. In an exchange of painful text messages, she learned that her aunt and five cousins, ages 9 to 18, had been killed in a retaliatory airstrike.

Virtually every year there is a bombing campaign, but I ve never heard my family talk as hopelessly about the situation, said Ms. Baroud, 24, who faulted Israel for the escalation in hostilities. There is nowhere to hide.

via www.nytimes.com

The NY Times has started its “contextualization” already. Note the use of “gunmen from Hamas” rather than the more precise “terrorists.”