Hamas is not Palestine

Images of war victims on the Palestinian side are flooding the internet. No surprise, public sentiment for the Palestinian cause is on the rise. Alarmingly, some sectors have even gone so far as to support Hamas.

Let’s get one thing straight. Hamas is not Palestine. Hamas is a terror group that rules Gaza. Hamas planned and executed the attacks on Israel and then retreated to Gaza to hide behind the Palestinian people. They purposely put Palestinian civilians in harm’s way.

Hamas attacked Israel knowing full well that Israel would respond with such force and fury that civilian lives would be at risk. They did so anyway. Their act of terror does not help the Palestinian cause for statehood and self-determination in any way. In fact, it puts it in peril.

Hamas does not even represent the Palestinian people. The last time legislative elections were held was in 2006. The terrorist group deprived the Palestinians of choosing a new set of leaders for 17 years. No elections means no mandate.

In fact, a recent survey revealed that 62 percent of Palestinians do not want war with Israel. A whopping 70 percent want to oust Hamas and replace them with the Palestinian Authority, the leadership of the West Bank.

Hamas leaders do not value human lives, whether Jewish, Palestinian or Hamas members themselves. Their sole objective is to sow anarchy. Why? Two reasons – one, to quash the ongoing peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia and destabilize Israeli relations with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, all of whom normalized relations in 2020. Two, to satisfy their lust for jihad and the eradication of the Jewish race.

Ismail Abdel Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, rules not from the warzone but from his luxurious residence in Qatar. He hands down orders from five-star hotels and private jets as he shuttles between Qatar, Turkey and Iran. He cavalierly orders the brutal murder of foes, “friends” (the Palestinians) and followers (the Hamas fighters themselves) while he and his family live in luxury. The Haniyeh brood are known real estate developers in the Arab world.

Make no mistake. The enemy is Hamas. The victims of this war are the Palestinian and the Jewish people.

Allow me to give way to Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss, who shares his thoughts about the ongoing conflict.

Israel’s war against Hamas

As I reflect on the harrowing events that unfolded on that fateful Saturday morning of Oct. 7, my heart swells with profound sorrow and burning indignation over the recent surge of terror and violence unleashed by Hamas terrorists. With each passing day, the death toll continues to rise and the anguish of families in Israel grows exponentially. Over 1,400 lives have been lost, killed in inhuman brutality by Hamas terrorists, including three overseas Filipino workers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in their commitment in protecting the lives of those they were taking care of. They are heroes. Furthermore, more than 100 innocent civilians were violently kidnapped and held hostage within the confines of the Gaza Strip, their lives hanging by a thread. Among them elderly people, including a Holocaust survivor, men, women, children and babies.

The sheer savagery displayed by these terrorists leaves us all struggling to comprehend the depths of their inhumanity. Hamas militants swarmed across the border from the Gaza Strip, leaving a trail of devastation in their path, mercilessly targeting Israeli communities, towns, villages and kibbutzim. They ruthlessly massacred young revelers at a festive party, leaving families shattered, communities in despair and a nation in mourning. Such acts, without doubt, constitute not only war crimes but also crimes against humanity.

It is imperative to acknowledge that Hamas is fueled by an unrelenting commitment to annihilate the State of Israel and its people. They weaponize their hatred and cloak themselves in the false guise of “freedom fighters.”

The terrorists who attacked Israel represent only a fraction of the active members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These terrorist organizations have built up a full-fledged army, recruiting predominantly from within the Gaza population. Tragically, a considerable number of Gazans continue to express support for Hamas leadership, perpetuating a vicious cycle of violence and suffering.

The roots of this malevolence and brutality are deeply embedded in the indoctrination and incitement that thrive within the Gaza Strip. For years, Hamas leadership has taken over Gaza and diverted resources intended for development and welfare to further their terror facilities and military aggression against Israel. The people of Gaza, particularly the younger generation, have been systematically subjected to relentless glorification of violence. This brainwashing deprives them of the fundamental values of democracy, civil liberties and peaceful coexistence.

It is essential to underscore that Hamas is, at its core, a terrorist organization. In its charter it calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and the killing of Israelis and Jews. As the group continues its relentless attacks on innocent civilians, we must recognize Israel’s inherent right to defend itself and protect its citizens from such barbaric aggression.

During my recent meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he emphasized the unwavering commitment of the Philippines to stand alongside Israel in its battle against the heinous and inhumane acts of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas. The President reaffirmed the strong and amicable ties between our nations and reiterated the Philippines’ unwavering support for Israel. I expressed my profound appreciation to the President for standing with Israel.

In this turbulent and painful time, there is no choice but to confront this monstrous adversary with unwavering determination. The battle against Hamas is a battle for justice, a battle for humanity and a battle that the world must unite to win. The cries of the innocent must not go unanswered, and the international community must stand together to bring an end to Hamas and its senseless terror and violence.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan