Many inquire about my stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict; hence, I aim to provide a concise summary of what I believe to be the most essential information. Let’s jump right into it!
In 1948, the establishment of Israel was internationally recognized and supported, with the United Nations voting in favor of a Jewish state in the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. While most of the world backed this decision, it faced immediate resistance from Arab nations, which voted against the creation of the modern state of Israel. This support came only a few years after the Holocaust, when Hitler’s Nazi Germany murdered six million Jews, underscoring the urgent need for a Jewish homeland where Jews could live safely and securely. The location chosen for this refuge was not arbitrary; it was the land where many Jews already lived, and the Jewish people had deep roots for thousands of years, assuming, of course, you recognize historical figures like King David or Jesus and his disciples as Jews…
1948: Rebirth, War, and Israel’s Defensive Stance
With the world’s approval and When Israel’s independence was declared, it was not an act of conquest or forceful takeover; rather, it was a UN-supported recognition of a Jewish state, envisioned as a safe haven for those who survived the Holocaust. In response, Israel was immediately attacked on all sides by neighboring Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and others, seeking to finish Hitler’s job by eliminating the newly formed state. Against these overwhelming odds, Israel defended itself and managed to survive. This victory, however, came at the cost of constant hostility from its neighbors, marking the beginning of Israel’s ongoing fight for survival amidst unyielding threats from surrounding nations who refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.
1967: The Missed Opportunity
On June 5-10, 1967, a coalition of Arab states, primarily Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, once again came together in an attempt to eliminate the state of Israel. However, Israel won again and ended up capturing strategic territories to protect itself. Shortly after the war, Israel offered to return most of this land in exchange for peace, security, and normalized relations. However, Arab leaders at the Khartoum Conference rejected this offer outright, issuing the “Three No’s”: No peace, No recognition, and No negotiations with Israel. This refusal left Israel with few options but to maintain a military presence in the territories to ensure its security, as its peace overtures were continually dismissed.
2007: Takeover of Gaza by Hamas, Rocket Attacks and Suicide Bombers
The Islamic Resistance Movement, abbreviated Hamas, published its charter in August 1988, wherein it defined itself as a chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood and its desire to establish “an Islamic state throughout Palestine.”1
Article 6 states that the movement’s aim is to “raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.”2 The charter rejects a two-state solution, stating that the conflict cannot be resolved “except through Jihad.” (In this context, Jihad is the war against Jews and Christians).
In 2007, Hamas forcefully took control of Gaza, ousting the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority. Following this takeover, Hamas transformed Gaza into a base for launching attacks against Israel, firing thousands of rockets across the border. Over the years, Hamas has launched tens of thousands of rockets toward Israeli civilian areas, terrorizing families, killing innocent people, and disrupting daily life. Alongside these rocket attacks, Hamas has used suicide bombers to target public spaces in Israel, causing numerous casualties and instilling fear among the Israeli population.
As of late 2023, Hamas’ leadership had an estimated wealth of $11B.3 By growing richer while keeping the Palestinian population poor, impoverished, and dependent, Hamas is able to maintain control and recruit new members very easily and quickly.
Instead of investing in education, healthcare, or infrastructure, Hamas has funneled foreign aid and resources (in the billions!) into building tunnels for terror activities, stockpiling weapons, and maintaining its publicly-declared mission to destroy Israel. This tragic misuse of resources has deprived Palestinians of opportunities for growth and stability and has kept the region in a perpetual state of conflict.
Hamas has long been accused of indoctrinating children with anti-Israel and antisemitic messages, often through its education system, media, and summer camps. From a very young age, children are exposed to propaganda encouraging hatred toward Jews and glorifying violence, often portraying martyrdom in the name of Allah as a noble goal. This indoctrination aims to cultivate loyalty to Hamas and foster a generation willing to engage in armed conflict against Israel.
#apartheid?
Israel cannot be classified as an apartheid state, as approximately two million Arabs, both Muslims and Christians, live within Israel as citizens with rights and representation in the government and as state officials. In contrast, there are no Jewish residents in Gaza, where Jewish presence is not permitted, and Hamas’s charter explicitly calls for the elimination of Israel.
October 7th, 2023
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a coordinated and brutal attack on Israel, beginning with a relentless barrage of over 4 thousand rockets aimed at civilian areas designed to overwhelm defenses. Under this cover, heavily armed Hamas militants breached Israel’s border, storming into towns, villages, and a crowded music festival, where they unleashed a wave of terror. The attackers indiscriminately massacred civilians—men, women, children, and elderly alike—often targeting families in their homes, setting them ablaze, and dragging 251 survivors as hostages into Gaza. Some victims were reportedly raped, put on fire and tortured, and chilling videos circulated online documented the atrocities, fueling worldwide outrage. The assault left over 1,400 dead, with scenes of mass murder and kidnappings marking one of the darkest and bloodiest days in Israeli history.
Despite international outcry, over a year has passed with Hamas still refusing to release the hostages taken during the assault, including civilians and small children. Instead of working towards peace or de-escalation, Hamas continues to endanger civilians by firing rockets from densely populated areas like hospitals, schools, and kindergartens, using civilians as human shields and exacerbating casualties. This tactic of embedding military assets in civilian areas has led to widespread suffering, with Palestinian civilians trapped in crossfire as Hamas escalates hostilities rather than seeking a resolution. The prolonged violence has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of lives lost and essential infrastructure devastated.
Israel Faces a Tragic Ethical Dilemma
In the past 20 years, Israel has endured tens of thousands of rocket attacks from various militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Each rocket is a direct threat to civilian life, forcing families to live in constant fear and uncertainty. Imagine if this were happening in any other country: if thousands of rockets were raining down on major cities, citizens would demand decisive action. What would you do if your family had to seek shelter multiple times a day from missile strikes?
#genocide?
Compounding the difficulty, Hamas and other militant groups deliberately use civilian structures, such as schools and hospitals, as cover for their rocket launch sites, turning civilians into human shields and sending children to fight. Israel faces a tragic ethical dilemma in responding, as these tactics inevitably lead to civilian casualties. However, this situation is not a genocide; the Palestinian population has significantly grown since 1948, increasing steadily even during the recent years of conflict, this one included. If Israel had any intention of eradicating the Palestinian people, it possesses the military capability, including nuclear arms, to inflict far more destruction. Yet Israel has exercised restraint, focusing as much as possible on targeted military responses rather than wholesale violence.
A Fight for Survival and the Pursuit of Peace Against #antisemitism
Israel’s story is one of resilience and the determination to survive despite relentless hostility. Israel has repeatedly extended peace offers and shown willingness to coexist, but these efforts have been met with violence, refusal, and continued aggression. The conflict with Palestinian militant groups is not a simple territorial dispute; it is a fight for Israel’s right to exist in the face of organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who openly call for Israel’s destruction, aka antisemitism.
Israel’s struggle is about ensuring the safety of its people, defending its borders, and maintaining its homeland. It is a story of survival amidst an ongoing battle against forces that refuse to recognize the Jew’s right to exist. Israel’s defense measures and its continued restraint in using its full military capabilities reveal its commitment to peace and stability, even when faced with relentless attacks.
#Free Gaza
Gaza indeed needs to be freed, but not from Israel—it needs freedom from Hamas and the hateful, antisemitic ideology that holds its people hostage. While no society is perfect, and Judaism has its own small group of extremists, they are the exception, not the rule. Jews, as a whole, are peaceful people who seek coexistence and stability, as evident in their history and culture. If you visit Israel, you’ll find a society that welcomes diversity and longs for peace. The path to a free Gaza lies not in destroying Israel but in dismantling the oppressive forces that thrive on hate for the benefit of all who live there.
- Kabahā, Muṣṭafá (2014). The Palestinian People: Seeking Sovereignty and State. [ Boulder, CO], Lynne Rienner Publishers. P 324. ↩︎
- Breedon, Jennifer R. (2015–2016). “Why the Combination of Universal Jurisdiction and Polical Lawfare Will Destroy the Sacred Sovereignty of States”. Journal of Global Justice and Public Policy. 2: 389. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
The Hamas Charter not only calls for the militant, perhaps genocidal, liberation of Palestine (e.g., “raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine”), but also demonstrates anti-Semitic, murderous intent.
↩︎ - New York Post: https://nypost.com/2023/11/07/news/hamas-leaders-worth-11bn-live-luxury-lives-in-qatar/ ↩︎
