To briefly recap, on October 7th, 2023, about 7000
terrorist on motorcycles, powered paragliders, small boats, attacked Israel at
119 points along and near the Israeli-Gaza border. Among the attackers was “Nukhba”,
which are specially trained commando units of the Hamas military along the
lines of Iraq’s Republican Guards, noted for the ferociousness and absolute
dedication.
The attack, code named “Al Aqsa Flood” began with a launch
of approximately 5000 rockets over 20 minutes into and along Israel’s border
with Gaza (and another 1000 rockets launched during the attack). The assault
wasn’t directed at Israeli military
bases as you would expect from a legitimate military operation. Instead, it centered on small civilian, mostly
farming, communities or “Kubutzes” which
were either unarmed or very lightly armed.
About 1,195 men, women, and children were murdered. Many
were brutally raped (including children), beaten, tortured, and burned alive.
The lucky ones were simply killed outright. According to Israeli and
international sources, among those dead were 736 Israeli citizens and 36
children, 79 foreign nationals, and 379 members of Israel’s security forces
consisting primarily of off duty members of the military, medical teams, police,
etc.
The focal point, however, seems to have been on individuals
attending a family oriented “Supernova
Sukkot Music Festival” or simply the “Nova
Music Festival”. There was an additional 378 individuals murdered along with 44
hostages taken (all told, there was a total of 251 hostages, of which 30 were
children). The perpetrators, armed mainly with hand grenades, handheld rocket launchers (“RPG”),
and AK type assault weapons, was lead by the Al-Qassam Brigade, and groups of Palestinian
civilians who were being egged on by the terrorists.
Following the attack, some 44 countries immediately condemned
the attack (which some have referred to as blatant genocide against the
Israelis) while many Arab and Muslim nations claimed that the attack was
justified because of Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory,
which had taken following the 1967 “Six Day War” in which Israel defeated five
Arab nations whose publicly stated intent was “pushing Israel into the sea”. The
Arab forces were soundly defeated, and as a result, some 300,000 Palestinians
and 100,000 Syrians were subsequently expelled from the occupied areas.
Hamas, however, claimed the attack was not just over
occupied territory, but the continued blockage of the Gaza Strip (which Israel,
along with Egypt, maintains in order to prevent further military material from
entering the country), as well as the continued expansion of settlements into Palestinian
owned land (which has often included personal property which has been in private
hands for generations and blatant destruction of homes by the Israeli military
with little or no warning as part of Israel’s “reoccupation” of the land).
Israel’s response to the massacre was as swift as it was brutal. Approximately 50,810
Gaza Palestinians have been killed while
Hamas’s military strength has dropped from around 60,000 to just around 18,000
or less. Bear in mind too that Hamas, which is regarded internationally as an
Iranian backed Sunni terrorist organization, typically uses civilians as
shields. They often operate missile sites from schools, playgrounds, daycares,
and hospitals. They regularly store weapons in private homes and businesses, while
controlling nearly every aspect of life in Gaza.
Although Israel regularly
warns civilians in Gaza in advance of a pending response (unlike most
countries), Hamas refuses to allow civilians to either vacate or to move their
missiles and military hardware away from home, schools, or hospitals. The hits are
recorded as “civilian targets”, making for good propaganda and public media
events for the uninformed and an opportunity to discredit the IDF and Israeli government.
What’s most interesting about the attack on Israel by Hamas is
the backlash it produced which was
totally unexpected. Instead of the usual support Israel has historically received,
many nations, especially in Europe, and individuals, particularly among the
college age youth, blamed Israel not just for the attack by Hamas, but also for
intensity of their response and even accuse Israel of intentionally triggered a
genocide of the Gazan people. As an
aside, this backlash hasn’t just been directed at Israel. It’s been aimed at
the United States, which has traditionally supported Israel, Jews and anyone
who supports Israel.
In some ways it reminded me of the latter days of the Vietnam
War when mainly young Leftwing anti-war protesters embraced Cuban revolutionary
Ernesto “Che” Guevara and “Uncle” Ho Chi Minh, with their images showing up
nearly everywhere. North Vietnamese and Russian “ Sickle and Hammer” flags were
almost commonplace at nearly every protest.
Many of the youth were openly promoting Communist ideals (I
suspect much of it had to do with tweaking the noses of the Status Quo as it
did anything) while burning their draft cards. Nowadays, its Palestinian flag
alongside (ironically) the LGBQT+ flag
showing up at protests while they go about illegally trying to block traffic
and screaming at anyone who disagrees with them. I wonder if anyone ever told them that the
only way you ultimately change the Status Quo is with ideas and action, not by
throwing temper tantrums?
When asked about Hamas, most Gazans describe the terrorist organization
as “oppressive” (especially for women) and typically placing the interest of Iran
ahead of theirs. They blame Hamas’s
attack on Israel for the carnage which has befallen them, while criticizing
Hamas for not apologizing for the civilian deaths.
They claim that while Israel “dehumanizes” them, so does Hamas, which sees them as a tool to be used against Israel and the West. They do not accept Hamas emphasis on martyrdom, saying that they value life more. To Hamas and other Islamists the Gazans claim, Palestinians must die so that they can justify their existence. Gazans point out that Leftist Arab groups and Islamists don’t like for Gazans to speak independently, preferring to control their narrative for them, using their voices to promote their agendas.
Just over 80% said they wanted new elections when the war
was over. When asked who they trust to lead Gaza after the war, 40% of Gazans
said they’d support Fatah, the secular
based party which currently governs the West Bank while just 6% would back
Hamas (no real surprise when you understand that Hamas hasn’t allowed any free
and open elections in Gaza since 2006). When asked if their was a new election after
the war, who would they support, the results were pretty similar. 47% said they’d
vote for Fatah while again, just 6% would back Hamas. It’s worth noting that
53% of Gazans didn’t believe Hamas would be willing to form a unified national Palestinian
government with Fatah.
When asked about the war, 84% said that Hamas should release
all hostages.74% wanted an international organization to manage the Rafah
border with Israel. 62% wanted to see a
two state solution with Israel similar to what was originally proposed in 1948
but rejected by the Arab League. 19% thought a single state solution was the
best option. Among Israelis, just 26% think a two state solution was still
possible.
According to these reports, while Hamas had lost half of its
original strength since 2023, there’s strong evidence that their recruiting efforts
have been successful in bringing them back to near their pre-October 7th
strength. Most of the new recruits are from countries with poor economic
opportunities.
This bodes poorly not just for the people of Gaza and Israel,
but the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world. Groups like Hamas
are interested in just one thing---the utter destruction of Israel at any cost
(followed by the annihilation of all Kefirs (Non-Muslims). After that, they can
murder each over which sect---Shiite or Sunni---is God’s chosen religion of
peace and tolerance.
Iran, perhaps Israel’s moral enemy, has continued with its
own nuclear program, allegedly with the intent of launching nuclear tipped
missiles at its archenemy with the understanding that such an attack would result
in an immediate response and the total destruction of Iran and its people. When
involved in a religious war, ordinary lives are inconsequential. They wallow in
the gore of war like pigs in mud.
Groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, Al Qaeda, and dozens of
others also understand this all too well. They
care little for the people they claim to govern. They are mere sacrifices
intended for their alters of extremism, ignorance and unquestioned obedience. They
bow their heads in prayer and profess to worship one thing when in truth what they
worship is oblivion.
There’s no question about their dedication to the cult of
death, while we chose not to take them at their word. We like to pretend that somehow,
they’re the victims. The Gazans and other Palestinians would disagree.
So would the Iranian people and the Kurds, the Yazidis, and countless others of
various religions, ethnic groups, gender, and sexual orientation. You want to talk about intolerance and hatred?
Well, here it is in one neat package with a noose for a bow.
In 1948, just three
years after the horrors of the Holocaust, we thought they won’t come for a newly
proclaimed Israel, yet they did. They refused the creation of a Palestinian
nation too. Today, some 76 years later, they
still seek Israel’s destruction. We thought
they’d never come for Europe. They have. Europeans are increasingly minorities
where they live. Many think they won’t
come for Russia, India, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, or China, but they will just as
they will eventually come for us unless we stop religious and political extremism, intolerance, and
authoritarianism in all its forms.
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the sources we used in writing this article. Thank you.
October 7 Hamas led attack in Israel
Gazans risk safety to share their criticisms of Hamas
What Gazans Really Think of the War, Who They Blame, and WhatThey Want to Happen Next
Has Palestinian’s perception of Hamas changed?
While Gazans Suffer, Leaders Live in Luxury
Hamas leaders worth $11bn revel in luxury---while Gaza’speople suffer
Analysis: Hamas has been hit hard by Israel, but is not outof Gaza
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