On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists crossed from Gaza into Israel and killed more than a thousand people, mostly civilians. Hamas also raped Israeli women, tortured helpless victims, and burned some Israelis alive. Hamas abducted more than 200 people and killed some of them in captivity.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently made clear, Israel cannot tolerate people who engage in such savagery. Israel has been fighting Hamas ever since, but Hamas still clings to life, protected by the surrounding civilian population of Palestinians and an intricate network of tunnels.
Of the approximately 250 hostages Hamas captured on October 7, about 50 remain in captivity, with perhaps no more than 20 who are still alive. Palestinian civilians have endured great suffering as a direct result of Hamas's acts of rape and mass murder. Many are starving, and dozens, perhaps hundreds, have been killed by Israeli ground and air attacks.
Without question, Israel's war against Hamas has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The leaders of several nations have condemned Israeli tactics, with some accusing the Jewish state of genocide.
Three major Western nations--Canada, France, and Great Britain--are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state in the misguided belief that Palestinian statehood will hasten the end of suffering for innocent civilians in Gaza.
Israel and the United States object to this move, correctly pointing out that recognition of Palestinian statehood rewards Hamas for its acts of barbarism. Recognition also gives aid and comfort to the pro-Hamas protesters on American college campuses.
In my view, the recognition of a Palestinian state by three of the United States' NATO allies is an act of cowardice that will only encourage Hamas to continue holding the handful of hostages it has not yet killed.
Photographs of the living Hamas hostages are heart-wrenching and are disturbingly similar to photos of Jews held in Nazi concentration camps. Indeed, Hamas antisemitism is equivalent to Nazi antisemitism.
Hamas must be utterly destroyed, whatever the cost. Unfortunately, the craven acts of cowardice by Britain, France, and Canada will prolong the suffering of innocent Palestinians and the hostages that Hamas has so far allowed to live.
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Prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp |