Hostages held by Hamas for over 50 days admitted to the harsh conditions kept by terrorists with irregular meaLs, often living on only rice and pita bread, loosing about seven kilos or 15 pounds of weight just six weeks. Hamas terrorists can barelly feed themselves let alone feed captives, kept on chairs, denied access to bathrooms for hours at a time. No one expeted the hostages would have access to the Geneva Convention where they would be treated humanely with basic conditions met for food, sleep and rest rooms. Hamas didn’t think through the decision to take 240 captives Oct. 7 when they slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and others, before taking another 240 hostages, not knowing how they would manage their basic needs for weeks at a time. Hearing about the substandard condition for keeping hostages should surpirse no one, knowing how primitive Hamas.
Hamas knew when they took 240 hostages that it would buy the terror group more t ime, knowing they could extort unlimited concessioins from Israel and the United States. President Joe Biden, 81, said he worked night-and-day to win the release of U.S. captives knowing that they had no real provisions for keeping hostages for an indefinite period of time. Israeli Netanyahu and Biden knew that hostages would endure harsh conditions, knowing the were used by Hamas terrorists as bait to exact concessions from the U.S. and Israel. Getting some 58 hostages out is a worthy goal but carries with it ongoing risks. Israel has suspended its war while more hostages get released, leaving military plans in limbo. Whether Israel can get all 240 hostatges out won’t be easy because Hamas holds the cards, knowing that the Islamic terror group seeks concessions.
Pro-Palestinian protests temporarily shut down New York City’s Manhattan Bridge , demanding that Israel end its assault on the Gaza Strip. Yet the Gaza Strip has been hijacked by the Hamas terrorists, plundering Gaza’s resources, some $100 billiion over the last 17 years, enriching themselve while ordinary Palestinians live without electricity and basic necessities. Hamas conveniently blames Israel for the blockade, knowing that Egypt also blockades the seaside area knowing that Hama uses resources to build military tunnels and stockpile rockets and other weapons from Iran and other international gun runners. Hanas has only one focus: Destroying Israel, in what’s knowm as “From the river to the sea,” meaning Hamas would wipe Israel off the map. Vocal protesters don’t acknowledge that to have any better life, Gaza must rid the territory of Hamas rule.
So, when it comes to war in Gaza, all Palestinians should back Israel’s attempt to vanquish the territoruy of Hamas terrorists. Hamas’ propaganda to the global media depicts a genocide by Israel against Palestinians, when, in fact, Israel battles the terrorist group that has a stranglehold on Gaza. With Hamas in control, no one can speak openly about the brutal repression, leaving Gaza residents in fear for their lives. Even 87-year-old Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas fears for his life, unable to speak about Hamas without repercussions. When Palestine Liberation Founder Yasser Arafat started making deals with Israel, Hamas poisoned him Nov. 11, 2004, all because Arafat started making peace with israel and the international community. Arafat wrote his own obituary for trying to make peace with Israel.
Living under the most harsh conditions in Hamas’ underground tunnels, hostages were treated in subhuman conditions, fed barely enough food to surive. None of the Palestinian protesters acknowledges backing a ruthless terror grup, no different than al-Qaeda or ISIS, justifying any atrocity as in line with Islams’s traditions. ISIS showed the world about hiding behind the Koran to jusify rape, torture and criminal offenses not seen since the Nazi Holocaust in WW II. Pro-Palestinian protesters should see through Hamas’ façade claiming they’re liberating Palestinian lands. Hamas tells Gaza resisdents that they’re ready to take back Palestinians lands from Israel. Palestinians want to believe Hamas’ narrative they’re fighting for Palestinian rights. Hamas has plundered Gaza for the last 17-years, enriching exiled leaders like Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal, both living in Qatar.
Whatever the ordeal of hostages in Gaza, the most humane thing Netanyahu can do is get rid of Hamas because of its corruption and atrocities. No Palestinian living in Gaza should be forced to live under the inhumane conditions, all created by Hamas squandering resources on corruption. Palestinians don’t know the extent of abuse to which they’ve been subjected under Hamas rule. President Biden said that the PA should take over sovereignty over Gaza, knowing that Abass would be a deadman walking. Abbas can’t speak his mind about Hamas knowing he’d be liquidated for any kind of truth. Instead of protesting against Israel, Palestininas should protest against Hamas who’s plundered the Gaza Strip for the last 17 years. Whatevr collateral damage is done in Gaza, Palestinians know that if they want a future, Hamas must go as soon as possible.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentay analzying spin in nation and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
