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Dear editor:
I’m less concerned with how Kamala Harris chose her running mate than with her position (and that of many other people who call themselves “pro-Palestinian”) on the war in Gaza. (“Column: Jewish Wars: Another Squadie Down, Mr. Shapiro Does Not Go to Washington…Yet” boulderjewishnews.com August 8, 2024) People who admit that Israel has a “right to defend her people” but think that Israel is killing too many civilians or causing too much dislocation don’t understand what is going on in Gaza.
The Hamas Charter states that Israel will exist until the Muslims destroy the Jewish state. Hamas has been trying to make good on this threat since its founding. Following October 7 (and Hamas’ vow to inflict thousands of October 7’s on Israelis), no one should doubt that Hamas is literally working to wipe Israel off the map and will continue those efforts if not decisively defeated by Israel in this current war.
The “pro-Palestinian” protesters who’ve been demonstrating of late are better characterized as anti-Israel or pro-Hamas. Their protests will do nothing to better the lives of the Palestinians living in Gaza under Hamas’ administration.
Hamas claims an Israeli blockade prevented the development of the Gazan economy. Yet, Hamas spent a billion dollars to build its extensive network of terror tunnels, deliberately embedding it among the populace in Gaza. Schools, hospitals, mosques, and businesses are all connected to the tunnel system; Hamas stores weapons in these buildings, fires missiles from their yards, and places its command centers in them, making it impossible for Israel’s exemplary efforts to avoid killing civilians to be 100% effective.
It’s important to recall that Hamas received intelligence on Israeli communities from Gazans who’d benefited from having permits to work in Israel. Some of those grantees even participated in the October 7 atrocities, in which Israelis who’d worked to better the lives of Gazans were among those murdered.
Anyone who truly grieves for the lives lost in this Hamas-initiated conflict should be urging Hamas to return the hostages (living and dead) to Israel and surrender. True peace requires the dismantling of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the deradicalization of the Palestinians living there.
Toby F. Block
Atlanta. GA
