The calculated chaos of Hamas’ narrative

In the last month, the world has witnessed a resurgence of violence in the Middle East, primarily driven by the terrorist organization Hamas. The Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, resembling a Holocaust-level massacre, exposes Hamas’ bid for international sympathy and pressure, manipulating the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.

At the heart of Hamas’ tactical playbook is a sinister bid for international sympathy and pressure, revealing a multifaceted approach that exploits the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians. While the organization’s actions may have delighted its supporters in Gaza and its sponsors in Iran, they have also galvanized the Israeli people, uniting them against Hamas, the common enemy.

Hamas finds itself outmatched militarily by Israel, prompting a strategic shift toward mobilizing international pressure on Israel as its best chance for survival. This strategy unfolds in two steps, each revealing a deliberate and calculated effort to manipulate perceptions on the global stage.

The first step is where Hamas deliberately places military assets beneath civilian structures, using human shields to create a scenario where any Israeli response risks harm to uninvolved Palestinians, providing effective immunity for its leadership and terrorist infrastructures.

The second step involves strategically positioning rocket launchers next to Palestinian civilians to draw return fire, generating visuals that amplify the narrative of Palestinian suffering, and serving as a potent weapon in the information war waged by Hamas.

Hamas benefits by using Gazan residents as human shields in two ways. First, it provides effective immunity for its leadership and military infrastructure. Second, by causing inevitable harm to civilians and civilian infrastructures, Hamas strategically exploits the global tendency to hold the Israel Defense Forces to a higher standard than any other military in similar circumstances, reinforcing the perception that Israel is accountable for the collateral damage.

Yet, there is an additional, closely related, benefit for Hamas. The organization seeks to divert attention away from its own horrific actions, including the massacre of 1,400 innocent people in Israel and the kidnapping of over 200 others. By portraying itself as the victim, Hamas endeavors to regain the sympathy of certain international audiences that may not fully grasp the intricacies of the conflict.

Understanding Hamas requires a deep dive into its ideological foundations. The organization is not merely a national liberation movement; it is a terrorist organization with a top priority of destroying Israel and the murder of all Jewish people. And they support the idea of establishing a Muslim state according to the law of Islam. To these fanatical believers, this goal justifies carrying out the most heinous attacks on Israeli civilians and treating the population of Gaza as pawns to be sacrificed. The Islamization of Israel is the ultimate goal. And after that—the rest of the world. Living by the law of Islam—the Sharia. What does that mean?

It’s important to know what their ideology is—especially for the liberal and progressive communities that tend to support Hamas. It is recommended to look at the rule of law in Gaza: the treatment of the LGBT community who are persecuted, the women who have to fully cover themselves not necessarily because Hamas tells them to, but because they are afraid. Are you sure you want this in your own countries?

Hamas’ threat extends globally, as evidenced by the Philippine authorities’ arrest of a Hamas bomb maker in 2018. The operatives aimed to kill Jews, raise funds, spread propaganda, and stage rallies. Another Hamas operative was arrested a year earlier. This exposes Hamas’ ambition beyond the Middle East, emphasizing its strategic focus on influencing foreign nations. The Oct. 7 massacre could inspire jihadist attacks worldwide, paralleling the evolution of past terror tactics that spread beyond their initial targets.

It’s crucial for the international community to recognize that Hamas is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that aims to bring widespread devastation, instability, and suffering. The world should not become unwitting pawns in the hands of those exploiting human suffering for their extremist agenda.

Rather than directing pressure at Israel, a democratic liberal country and nation defending itself, its survival, and its values, the focus should be on dismantling the extremist infrastructure perpetuating violence. Acknowledging Hamas terror culture, antisemitic ideology, extreme Islam, and calculated strategies is essential for fostering a path toward lasting peace and security in the Middle East without Hamas.

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Ilan Fluss is Israel’s ambassador to the Philippines.