Today, we read the sad headlines that Hamas authorities execute five Palestinians, the first executions in Palestinian territories since 2017. Two of those executed were accused of espionage.
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant, and nationalist organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. It won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election and became the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip following the 2007 Battle of Gaza.
Hamas also holds a majority in the parliament of the Palestinian National Authority, and Israel is being cajoled into constantly offering ways to appease them, at the sake of weakened security!
While Donald Trump may not be everyone’s first choice of American president, a little fact finding is in order when it comes into the interest of Israel’s survival. During his presidency acts of terrorism, especially promoted and coordinated through the Palestinian Authority was minimal. It is astonishing that since the present US administration has been in place, wanton acts of murder against innocent Jewish lives has increased by over 400%. It is worthy of mention that Trump held steadfast in not allowing the PA to distribute funds to help family members of terrorists, thereby encouraging continued acts of terrorism as a macabre profession.
Without meddling in America’s internal political machinations, the simple question raised is why President Biden cannot continue his predecessors’ policy that proved effective in combating terrorism? After all, he saw fit to continue Trump’s peace initiative between Israel and many previous antagonistic Arab nations. We hope that the question of combating terrorism isn’t linked to political gain, as Biden seeks to appeal to his extreme left wing that he has a balanced approach towards the PA and Israel as elections loom on the horizon.
This story of Hamas executing Palestinians who’s main crime is to counter terrorism is troubling for many reasons. Foremost, it should demonstrate that there is no will for peace from the group of Palestinians that we’re supposed to appease, to find favor with American attempts to bring us closer together.