Greg Bouwer
IINZ
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprovoked and brutal attack on Israel that will forever be etched in history for its cruelty. The horrors of that day, as chronicled in the recently released UK report, were not merely the latest chapter in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This was a genocidal assault – one designed to exterminate Jews simply for being Jews. It was a massacre that witnessed mass murder, torture, and sexual violence, all gleefully documented by the perpetrators themselves and even livestreamed. The sheer scale of this pogrom makes it the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. And yet, despite the overwhelming evidence of Hamas’ role in initiating this violence, much of the world seems reluctant to hold the group accountable.
Instead, we see misplaced blame directed at Israel, a sovereign nation with the right – and the obligation – to defend itself against such barbarism. Israel is not waging an offensive war: it is fighting a defensive one. Its actions, though tragic, are necessary to protect its citizens from an existential threat. War, while a horrific reality, does not equate to genocide – especially when Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to minimize civilian casualties, despite Hamas’ ruthless use of human shields. Israel is faced with a terrorist organization whose very existence is predicated on the destruction of the Jewish state, and, yet, the international community often refuses to recognize the complexity of this struggle.
Hamas, which ignited this conflict, has made it crystal clear that it will not rest until Israel is wiped off the map. It seeks not merely a military victory, but the eradication of an entire people. Their commitment to violence and destruction is unwavering, and they have shown no hesitation in violating international law by embedding their military operations within civilian infrastructure – turning schools, hospitals, and residential buildings into military targets. According to the Geneva Conventions, such locations are legitimate military targets, yet Hamas deliberately places civilians in harm’s way, cynically exploiting the laws of war to further its agenda. This manipulation has serious consequences, as it distorts global perception, making it seem as though Israel is indiscriminately targeting civilians when in fact Hamas is directly responsible for much of the suffering.
The situation is worsened by Hamas’ systematic theft of humanitarian aid. Rather than using international support to help their own people, Hamas reroutes food, medical supplies, and fuel to fuel its war machine. Meanwhile, the civilian population is left to suffer. Tragically, the international community continues to rely on casualty reports from Hamas-controlled sources, which have been repeatedly proven to be exaggerated or falsified. These figures, though misleading, are often uncritically accepted by global media and international organizations, helping to perpetuate a false narrative that vilifies Israel while ignoring the true architects of civilian deaths.
The double standard applied to Israel is both glaring and dangerous. For decades, Israel has been held to an impossibly high moral standard, expected to adhere to an ethical code that no other nation is required to follow in times of war. Meanwhile, Hamas continues its campaign of terror, and the world remains largely silent. How many more reports of mass murder, terrorism, and inhumanity will it take before the international community acknowledges that Hamas – not Israel – is the true aggressor?
Failure to hold Hamas accountable not only fuels the ongoing violence but also ensures that Gaza remains under the brutal control of a regime that values destruction over the welfare of its own people. Hamas is willing to sacrifice its own civilians in pursuit of an extremist ideology, showing no regard for Palestinian lives. If the world genuinely cares about peace and the well-being of Palestinians, it must recognize the harsh truth: Hamas is the greatest obstacle to peace – not Israel.
Until the international community, human rights organizations, and media outlets confront this reality, the cycle of violence will persist, and justice will remain elusive – not only for Israelis, but for the Palestinian people as well. The time has come for the unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and decisive action against its leadership. The world can no longer afford to turn a blind eye.
This article was originally published by the Israel Institute of New Zealand.
