By Rob Meyne
- Nov. 24, 2023
- 5-min read
Hamas, which is both a terrorist organization and the ruling body of Gaza, on October 7 conducted the biggest act of terrorism targeting Jewish people since the Holocaust. It was the bloodiest, most tragic act of its kind in our lifetimes.
In terms of pure hatred, Hamas and its sycophants have delivered something we have not seen since 911 or the Holocaust. Anyone who doesn’t instantly recognize that has given up their place at the table of rational debate.
Hamas launched an unprovoked assault on ordinary people, not in response to any actions by Israel, and did not target government or military targets. They tortured average citizens, killed them, and took them hostage. Their victims included many Americans.
Israel is our closest ally, and the only real democracy, in the region. They are longtime friends with whom we have officially been aligned since their founding. At one time, a huge majority of Americans supported Israel. Many still do, but it is changing.
The Hamas assault may prove to be one of the events we look back on someday and say, “how did we not rise and stop this once and for all?” If we do not recognize the need to stand as one in support of what is good, decent, and righteous, we may be dooming our world to further suffering that would have been preventable had we just done that right thing.
Thousands have rallied to show their support for Hamas, and their hatred of Israel. Don’t be mistaken. There is no middle ground on October 7 and the Israeli response: either you recognize the Palestinian/Arab attack as an indefensible act of pure evil, or you equivocate and grasp for ways to minimize and excuse it. Many in the Democratic leadership have done just that. Notably, not a single nationally prominent Republican has defended Hamas.
Hamas apologists and supporters, in the U. S. and around the globe, have already gotten to work spinning the news and rewriting history in a way that justifies the Palestinians explicit endorsement of genocide.
Yet no reasonable person can support them at this point. Women were gang raped to the point of having their pelvises shattered. Babies were thrown into ovens, burned alive, or beheaded. Jews and Americans were burned in their homes, shot or beaten to death, and taken hostage. Depending on what survey you look at, something like a quarter or more of Americans openly support Hamas.
Hamas stands sharply against everything Americans have traditionally believed in. Millions of Americans apparently no longer share those values. But if you still place a high priority on mercy, kindness, decency, freedom, and the value of life you cannot support Hamas.
In Washington, sixteen Democratic members of the House did not vote for a simple resolution condemning Hamas and the terrorist attacks. (One GOP member did not support it.) About 12% of the entire Democratic caucus could not agree that terrorism and terrorists are bad. No wonder their party can’t define what is a woman, thinks men can have babies, and believes everyone who isn’t a white male is a victim.
Biden supports a cease fire, which is what Hamas wants. It would give Hamas time to regroup and defend itself. And there are presently periodic pauses to allow the movement of hostages or humanitarian acts.
Yet where does it end? Will continued pauses bring an end to the Hamas reign of terror? No. Cease fires will only guarantee survival of the terrorists. Only letting Israel do its job can lead to an end of the war and the kind of peace that only comes after victory.
