{"id":8252,"date":"2023-11-23T10:42:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T21:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/israelinstitute.nz\/?p=8252"},"modified":"2023-11-24T08:30:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T19:30:43","slug":"israel-and-hamas-the-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/israelinstitute.nz\/2023\/11\/israel-and-hamas-the-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel and Hamas: the facts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone watching the global media coverage of the current conflict between the State of Israel and Hamas could be excused for forming the view that Israel is some sort of ruthless aggressor \u2013 totally focused on eliminating Palestinian civilians in an act of revenge. But is this really what\u2019s happening?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look past the media headlines and examine what\u2019s really going on to see if we can separate fact from heavily skewed fiction:<\/p>\n

How did this latest conflict start?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At 6.30am on the morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel<\/a>. The attack<\/a>included hundreds of indiscriminately fired rockets, balaclava-clad fighters dropping from paragliders to cross the border, and ground assaults<\/a> on civilians in their homes<\/a>, on city streets and at a music festival<\/a>. More than 1,200 people were killed<\/a>, including a large number of internationals.<\/p>\n

The nature of the reported atrocities that were committed<\/a> during the attack included rape, torture<\/a>, and the beheading of babies<\/a>. (claims that these beheadings did not take place<\/a> have now been disproved<\/a>). Additionally, more than 240 people were taken hostage<\/a> and dragged into Gaza to an unknown fate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, what is Hamas?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"Hamas is a militant Islamic Jihadist movement<\/a>which first emerged in 1988<\/a> and which now rules the Gaza Strip, to the south-west of Israel. The word \u2018Hamas\u2019 is an acronym for the Arabic phrase \u1e24arakah al-Muq\u0101wamah al-\u02beIsl\u0101miyyah which means \u2018Islamic Resistance Movement\u2019. (in Hebrew, the word \u2018hamas\u2019 means \u2018violence\u2019). In a very real sense, Hamas is driven by the same objectives which motivated ISIS<\/a>. In fact, according to a leading Muslim academic, Hamas IS ISIS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hamas took control of Gaza following elections held in 2006 in a bloody coup in which they murdered hundreds of political rivals. Hamas now exercises a dictatorship over the people of Gaza.<\/p>\n

Hamas receives significant funding<\/a> and support from Iran, Qatar and bordering Egypt. It also receives support, indirectly, from the United Nations \u2013 particularly through UNRWA<\/a>, a UN agency which has been repeatedly censured by many UN member nations<\/a> for its support of terrorist activities<\/a>, corruption, and for teaching children to glorify the murder of Jews in its schools.<\/p>\n

What does Hamas want? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hamas wants to eliminate the Jews<\/a>\u00a0and establish a Caliphate in the whole land of Israel. It makes no secret of this and has repeatedly declared that its purpose is to create a state of \u2018permanent total war<\/a>between Israel and its neighbours\u2019.<\/p>\n