The Israelis would like nothing better than for all one million civilians in northern Gaza to heed the IDF leaflets urging them — for their own safety — to move south of the Wadi Aza for the duration of the war. At the same time, Hamas wants them to remain, as human shields, preventing Israel from waging war with the ferocity it wants because of the IDF’s fear of harming innocent civilians. Hamas wants always and everywhere to maximize civilian casualties, on both sides; Israel wants always to minimize them. Hamas has now even struck — apparently with a rocket — a convoy of vehicles, killing 70 people, many of them children, as they travelled on one of the two main north-south thoroughfares, Salah al-Din Street, in Gaza. More on Hamas’ killing of fellow Palestinians can be found here: “Reports: Hamas Kills Palestinian Civilians Trying to Flee; Won’t Let Americans Leave,” by Joel B. Pollak, Breitbart, October 15, 2023:
Reports are emerging that the Hamas terrorist group is preventing civilians from evacuating northern Gaza, killing innocent Palestinians who try to leave, and preventing American citizens from using the Rafah border crossing to escape to Egypt.
Despite Hamas’ threats, a half-million Gazans have already travelled, by Oct. 16, from northern to southern Gaza, trusting Israeli assurances that they will be safe, and showing their mistrust of Hamas, that wants them to remain in the north to serve as human shields.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Jonathan Conricus has been warning for days that Hamas is preventing civilians from leaving Gaza ahead of an anticipated ground war. He cited both Israeli and international sources in an interview on CNN Sunday.
The Times of Israel reported that Conricus expanded on that point during a question-and-answer session on Twitter/X Sunday, accusing Hamas of attacking a column of Palestinian civilians trying to evacuate, killing 70:
IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus says a strike on a convoy of Gazans fleeing to the southern part of the Strip Friday appears to have been a false flag operation carried out by Hamas.
At least 70 people, most of them children, were killed in the strike, which occurred on a route that Israel said should be used for fleeing Gazans. Another 200 were injured.
Conricus says he expects the army will release proof of its claim in the coming hours or days.
Of course, it would make no sense for the IDF to attack a convoy of Gazans traveling from the north to the south. That is exactly what Israel wants them to do, has been pleading with them to do. And that is exactly what Hamas does not want to happen. It wants to cajole, to threaten, to warn Palestinians not to leave the north, and there is no better way to prevent that move than to attack a convoy of Gazans on their way south, and to kill as many as possible. Of course, Hamas blamed Israel for the attack, but the logic of this war makes clear that it is Hamas, not Israel, that profits from such a strike.
When the Palestinian-Americans are finally allowed by Hamas to leave Gaza through the Rafah Opening into Egypt, what will they tell the world? Will they tell the truth — that Hamas was responsible for holding them as hostages inside the Strip — or will they twist the story so that Israel is blamed? I’m guessing the latter. Among themselves, and with their families waiting in America, they will tell the truth — “Yes, Hamas kept us in Gaza for days, but let’s keep it to ourselves.” But for the American and international media, they will insist, without providing a coherent explanation, that “the Israelis wanted to keep us in Gaza for as long as possible.” It makes no sense, but so what? These Palestinian-Americans are consumed with hatred for the “Zionist entity,” and will turn whatever happens to them into an occasion for Israel-bashing.
Do you think that the UN would take the time out of its busy schedule of Israel-bashing to condemn Hamas for having prevented he Palestinian-Americans from leaving Gaza — which is clearly a “conflict area” — and thereby violated the Fourth Geneva Convention? Of course not. That would only confuse people. It might make some people less hostile to Israel, and angrier with Hamas. And for many of the UN’s members, that would never do.
Rick says
It is not too difficult to know Hamas’ positions. They like to see suffering by Palestinians, including death because every tragedy for a Palestinian is blamed on Israel. That system works very well. It is almost foolproof. Errand Hamas rockets often land in Gaza and not in Israel. They kill or wound Palestinians. Has there ever been a anti-Hamas demonstration against this? Never. Has there ever been an iman calling out Hamas at the mosque? No. Never. Has there been an EU harsh statement with real penalties ( that would be $$$$)? Never. Has any Arab nation been openly critical of Hamas, Islamic Jihad or any Palestinian terrorist group? No. Never. Have any US universities condemned Hamas? Yes, some but they are in the minority. American colleges have become more like American Madrassas. Even when Hamas acts exactly as Nazis, which they did in this invasion of Israel, the world feels bad but still most reserve their indignation for big, bad Israel.
Hide says
I remember when Hamas real name was PLO they at to call it Hamas to protect the name Palestinian. About 50 years ago the PLO Blew 3 passenger Planes up on the runway. They can have a new name but it’s still PLO.
OLD GUY says
You are right and it is still ISLAMIC TERRORISM no mater what name you put on it.