There is a concept in quantum mechanics known as quantum entanglement. It describes the phenomenon whereby two particles, separated by some distance, are linked in such a way that they share the same fate. When you change the state of one of these particles, this change is mirrored instantly in the other particle, even when it is far away. Acts in one place have effects in another place. Einstein described this phenomenon as spooky action at a distance: two seemingly unconnected things are, inherently, connected.
This week, the right wing activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead. At the time of writing, no one has been charged with his murder, and no reason for the murder has been given. The mainstream commentariat and the political establishment, on both sides of the aisle, denounced his assassination as an unfathomable, inexcusable act, one that could not be countenanced in a civil society. Political violence, they said, cannot be tolerated.
This week, a figure swept across social media: 680,000 Palestinians killed, through both direct violence and forced deprivation, since the start of Israel’s current aggression in October 2023. This figure arose from an analysis of the available death and injury figures by two Australian professors, Dr Gideon Polya and Dr Richard Hil, which was originally published in July; the numbers given refer to estimates only up until April 2025. The authors argue that the number of deaths are being underestimated, and that the actual number of deaths must be higher than reported officially. Breaking down their figures, they write that the demographics within Gaza mean that, according to their estimations:
the 680,000 Gazans killed by violence and imposed deprivation by 25 April 2025 included about 380,000 under-five-year-old infants, 479,000 children in total, 63,000 women and 138,000 men.
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