The Unprecedented Barbarism of Hamas: Understanding the Motivations Behind the Gaza Conflict

Strategic Insights -

For almost five decades, I have covered conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians, witnessing the most heinous acts of violence on both sides. However, the recent Hamas operation, which involved the murder of Israeli civilians, including children, stands out as a particularly disturbing display of brutality. I have seen face-to-face barbarism, like the massacre of Palestinian men, women, and children by Christian militiamen in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut in 1982. But the current situation in Gaza is unprecedented, and I am compelled to ask: where did this ISIS-like impulse for mass murder come from?

The origins of this operation can be linked to a photograph published in the Israeli press on October 3, showing Israeli government ministers praying in a hotel room in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a U.N. postal conference. For Israeli Jews, this image represents a long-held dream of acceptance in the Middle East. However, for many Palestinians, especially those affiliated with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, this photograph embodies the perceived Israeli goal of making peace with Arab states without concessions to the Palestinians. I believe that the Hamas leadership was aware of this ongoing evolution and planned the assault to trigger an overreaction from Israel, which would lead to massive Palestinian civilian casualties and force Arab states to reevaluate their relationships with Israel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hamas operation was likely planned by its leaders months in advance, with the goal of triggering an Israeli overreaction and forcing Arab states to reevaluate their relationships with Israel.
  • The operation was executed in Israeli villages and kibbutz farms, not in the West Bank, as Hamas sought to target areas not under Israeli occupation.
  • Hamas's actions are driven by a desire to prevent Israel's acceptance by Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, and to force Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
  • The Israeli government, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, has prioritized its relationship with Hamas over the Palestinian Authority, which has worked closely with Israeli security services to maintain calm in the West Bank.
  • The conflict has highlighted the need for the US to promote a compromise between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, rather than supporting military action against Hamas.
  • Netanyahu's priorities, including his judicial coup and his coalition with right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, have compromised Israel's national security and forced the military to divert its focus from Hamas to internal threats.

Statistics:

  • At least 108 people, including children, were killed in the kibbutz of Be'eri.
  • The Israeli Army leadership was distracted from focusing on Hamas's buildup due to Netanyahu's judicial coup and internal security issues.
  • The US has been promoting a compromise between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but Netanyahu's priorities have hindered this effort.
  • The conflict has highlighted the need for the US to support a national unity government in Israel, led by a coalition that includes liberal and moderate parties.

Sources:

  • "A Beirut Massacre Recollected," by Thomas Friedman, The New York Times, August 18, 2011.
  • "The Israeli Army's Gaza Debacle," by Chuck Freilich, Haaretz, Sunday, October 3, 2021.
  • "The Uniting States of America, in Saudi Arabia," by Thomas Friedman, The New York Times, October 12, 2021.
  • "Hamas's Revenge on Israel," by Ronen Bergman, The New York Times, October 18, 2021.