Hamas is IS

It was Oct. 7, a Shabbat day in Israel. Normally, this is a day of family gatherings, rest, and prayer. We also celebrated Simchat Torah, marking the end of the Jewish High Holidays which began mid-September with Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year.

But that Saturday would be now remembered as the black Simchat Torah. The normal was suddenly transformed into horrific, as heavy gunfire and rocket barrages targeted the civilian population. Hamas, the terrorist organization that rules the Gaza Strip, had decided to launch a massive surprise attack and drag Israel into a war.

Residents of cities, as far apart north as Tel Aviv, were awakened at dawn by air raid sirens and the sounds of explosions. Civilians living near the Gaza Strip woke to find heavily armed terrorists roaming their streets, shooting at early risers, breaking into homes, butchering the residents, and seeking hostages to drag and kidnap to Gaza. Thousands of young people at an all-night nature rave party near the border came under gunfire and those still standing scattered to find places to hide, desperately texting or whispering in calls to their parents begging to be rescued. They were cold-bloodedly massacred. The horrific photos remind us of the Holocaust when the Nazis massacred the Jews.

As I write this, the devastating toll on Israel is staggering: over 1,300 Israelis have lost their lives, and more than 3,600 have been injured. Additionally, more than 130 individuals have been kidnapped, forcibly dragged into Gaza as hostages. The grim reality unfolds in a series of gruesome videos posted online by the terrorist group, where they heartlessly taunt and execute innocent civilians. It’s heart-wrenching to recount the stories of a grandchild discovering their grandmother’s tragic fate through a Facebook Live video posted on the victim’s own account, or a child torn from their mother and abducted across borders. The horrifying image of an entire family, parents and three children, perishing together on a single bed, and a helpless baby consumed by flames in its cot, serves as a painful testament to the unspeakable horrors perpetrated by Hamas. Even though I am a thousand miles away from my homeland, the anguish and suffering endured by my nation deeply saddens me. The heart-wrenching funerals for the victims have already begun, marking a somber moment in our collective grief.

Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization, shares an identical ideology with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (IS).

Their actions, marked by brutality and violence, resemble those of IS. It’s important to note that the world is united in the fight against IS. This recent attack exposes the true nature of Hamas as it initiates an aggressive act against Israel without any legitimate reason or prior provocation.

Hamas’ sinister agenda is unambiguous: to wipe Israel off the map and annihilate the Jewish population. Their actions have claimed the lives of numerous innocent foreigners, including three dedicated overseas Filipino workers employed in Israel. The imagery and motivation behind this atrocity eerily harken back to the IS-led Marawi siege, underscoring the urgency of addressing this grave threat.

It’s imperative to emphasize that Israel does not consider the residents of the Gaza Strip as its enemies. Prior to this tragic attack, Israel had been investing significant efforts to improve the living conditions of the civilian population in Gaza.

Hamas has declared war against Israel, and in response, Israel is steadfastly defending and protecting its citizens. In its efforts to combat Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is making every possible attempt to minimize civilian casualties. The IDF communicates in advance about areas to be targeted, providing civilians with the opportunity to evacuate. Their focus is solely on Hamas’ facilities. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that Hamas is exploiting civilians as human shields, intentionally placing their facilities in civilian neighborhoods, including sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, and even mosques. Moreover, they are actively preventing civilians from leaving areas that are slated for attack.

While Israel is committed to doing everything in its power to spare innocent lives, Hamas’ dual strategy, which involves targeting Israeli civilians while using Gaza’s population as shields, creates an incredibly challenging situation. To put it simply, Israel is employing missiles to protect its civilians, whereas Hamas is using civilians to protect its missiles.

The response of the international community plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome of this dire situation. President Marcos, along with numerous other world leaders, has unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack by Hamas. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has also declared that the Philippines will officially designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.

The Philippines stands firmly with Israel in the global battle against terror, including Hamas and IS.

Ilan Fluss is Israel’s ambassador to the Philippines.