Should Israel Stop the War Now? Notes of an Israeli Mother

Since Oct 7, we have received many supportive messages from Jews abroad that warm our hearts. Except for one. It came from a Jewish woman residing in the USA, accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians. While disappointing, it's not surprising, and I'm sure she's not alone in this belief.

As the war continues in Gaza, and the number of Palestinian casualties is increasing, more and more people in the world believe that Israel commits genocide.

Unfortunately, this is the result of Israel neglecting public opinion for decades, allowing Hamas's narrative to dominate the global stage. This negligence has led to two major consequences: the world doesn't grant us legitimacy to defend ourselves, and anti-Semitism is on the rise.

I was born and raised in Israel, and I've lived here my whole life, raising four wonderful boys. Israel is a great place to raise kids, a blend of warm people, beautiful places, and an innovative nation, but it's also a country that's always facing terrorism. or me, Israel is the only place where I truly feel at home. It means allowing my kids to roam freely in our neighborhood, but it also means preparing to send them to the army when they reach adulthood. It's a land of warm-hearted people always willing to help, but it also means knowing there's a risk of getting hurt in a terror attack while hanging out at a café with friends.

Nobody in Israel wants the Israel-Palestinian conflict to continue. The situation with Gaza has worried me for years, even before Oct 7. I've always believed that Palestinians deserve a good life, but sadly, as you'll see in this article, their idea of a better life means no life for us.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex, with much ignorance and fake news circulating. Every story has two sides, and the world keeps hearing mostly about one side - the Palestinian side. Israel's side receives less attention.

After receiving that email, I decided to sit down and present our side of the story as clearly as I could, as an Israeli mother. I want to present all the facts from Israel's perspective so you can form your own opinion in the end.

No one can deny that Israel is attacking Gaza and innocent people are getting hurt. However, does this automatically mean that Israel's attack is unjustified? Let's delve into the situation.

As I aimed to present all aspects of the conflict, this blog turned out lengthy. To make it more manageable, I've divided it into short, expandable sections for easy browsing. If you're pressed for time, but still want to be educated, there's a concise SUMMARY at the end.

I'll start from the end.

What Did Happen on Oct 7?

On October 7, 2023, pure goodness encountered pure evil.

Have you ever seen a horror movie, or heard about a brutal attack on the news? The utmost cruelty you ever saw or can imagine doesn't even come close to the brutality that the citizens of Israel experienced during this attack.

Shabbat morning, during the Simchat Tora holiday, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel's land and attacked Israeli citizens with inhuman brutality. By "non-human brutality," I mean it literally, and if you think it's an exaggeration, keep reading to the end. They murdered over 1400 people, injured over 10,000, and kidnapped 253 innocent civilians, including babies, children, men, women, parents, and grandparents —taken from their beds—and young individuals from the music festival Nova. Those they didn't murder, they tortured, raped, burned their houses, and took them hostage.

The people exposed to these horrors will need mental treatment probably for the rest of their lives to overcome the sights that will forever remain in their heads.

WARNING!

***** The following paragraph includes sensitive and horror information.

If you are not an adult or prefer not to be exposed to this information, skip this paragraph!

A few examples of the horrors: the Hamas terrorists (literally) slaughtered babies, burn them in the oven in front of their parents, beheaded people, group raped girls and women over and over while forcing their spouse to watch, take babies, women and elderly as hostages, and even more brutal acts that I will spare from you. Slaughtering a baby of a pregnant woman, while it is in her uterus. Some of the people who were declared as missing were finally identified by a single bone that was found in the field. Since humans cannot live without this bone it determines their death. Children were tortured in front of their parents and vice versa. People were burned alive. Families were executed one in front of the other. The faces of the dead bodies were twisted with pain, one can only imagine the torture they went through before they died.

The Sexual attacks

Just four months since the war began, and an initial report detailing the atrocities they've committed has been released. The survivors' testimonies and the evidence found at the crime scenes paint a chilling picture of deliberate and targeted sadistic attacks. The extent of the horrors is only beginning to unfold, and it's already more appalling than we could have imagined. The sexual assaults often occurred by groups, in plain sight, in front of the victim’s family, to instill terror. What's being unearthed is just a glimpse of the true horrors, and it's more gruesome than we could have ever imagined. Their goal was to sow terror and fear, to force us out of our homeland. Those who survived are traumatized into silence, taking a long time to even seek help as they grapple with the horror.

***** End of sensitive information

This is pure evil sadism. The few scenes I described above, are not even the worst of them. Israel is now flooded with survivors who witnessed the horrors and mentally did not return to themselves. They are surrounded by an army of mental therapists, but they will never return to themselves. Some of them even committed suicide—the brutality they have witnessed murdered their soul.

That is the reason why Israel started to attack Hamas in Gaza.

Did it Happen for Real?

Without a doubt! The terrorists' GoPro cameras, along with testimonials from hundreds of survivors, released hostages, and Zaka workers, provide undeniable evidence that this happened without any doubt.

Hamas successfully persuaded many people around the world that the assault on Israel on October 7 was fabricated. Some even attempt to rewrite history regarding the Holocaust. For some reason, they choose to ignore the evidence –

1. Thousands of videos were found in the GoPro cameras of the terrorists who carried out the attack. The IDF produced a film commonly called "The Horror Movie," which includes scenes captured by their GoPro cameras. The film is not open to the public, but the IDF also established a new website called "Hamas Massacre 7.10" which is accessible to everyone. The website includes short videos of the attack, not edited. I must warn you that anyone who watches it cannot remain the person they were before. Of course, children must not watch it.

2. Testimonials from hundreds of survivors.

3. Zaka workers (Zihuy Korbanot Ason, 'Disaster Victim Identification') who witnessed the remaining bodies.

4. Workers from the Institute of Forensic Medicine who were working day and night to identify the massive number of bodies (which seemed almost impossible to identify given the state of the bodies).

5. International reporters who visited the attack sites are writing articles about their visits.

6. Israel is a small nation where nearly everyone knows someone who either survived or perished. I know personally three instances of survival, and I'm acquainted with five individuals whose close friends experienced loss in the October 7 attack. So yes, the attack did happen for real!

7. On October 7th, Hamas terrorists posted hundreds of videos to Telegram channels as a display of pride. However, after voices in the world began linking them to GETIN, they removed some of the videos.

All this evidence is undermined in the public eye, who seem to prefer the word of a terrorist organization.

Why Doesn't Israel Attack Only the Hamas? Why are Palestinian Citizens Getting Killed?

Because Hamas is hiding in Gaza in underground tunnels or among civilians, and uses them as a human shield. Additionally, Hamas is inflating the number of casualties as part of their manipulation.

Israel aimed to initiate the attack in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. Before starting the assault, Israel decided to evacuate citizens from the north to minimize the risk to innocent people. The IDF went above and beyond to encourage Gaza civilians to evacuate the war zone and relocate to the southern parts of the Gaza Strip. The IDF committed not to target the southern part and upheld that promise. These efforts included IDF soldiers personally contacting Palestinian families, sending text messages to their phones, and distributing paper flyers throughout their neighborhoods.

Hamas terrorists attempted to prevent Palestinian civilians from leaving the war zone, as they wanted to use them as human shields. The IDF had to patrol the roads and take action against Hamas's attempts to block civilians from leaving the war zone.

Do you know of any army in any state that makes such huge efforts to protect the civilian population of their enemy?

Despite the IDF's extensive efforts, some Palestinian civilians insisted on staying in the war zone, putting their lives at risk. This is why innocent Palestinians, including children, are getting killed. While citizens are still getting hurt despite Israel's efforts, it's important to recognize that wars are never sterile.

Furthermore, Hamas controls the data reported about Gaza, but their information is unreliable, to say the least. Hamas is fabricating the number of casualties, inflating them to appear larger as part of their manipulation of the Western world. They also publish fake photos, recycle images from other wars such as in Syria, or generate images using AI tools.

How Does Israel Take Care of the Palestinian Citizens During the War?

Until today, Israel has allowed more than 10,000 trucks to bring humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including food, medicine, and fuel.

If So Much Humanitarian Aid Enters Gaza, Why is there a Humanitarian Crisis Now?

Because Hamas is stealing most of this aid.

The reason for the crisis is that Hamas is stealing a significant portion of the food, fuel, and medicine meant for civilians. Approximately 60% of this aid is stolen, and the remaining 40% is sold to civilians at four times the market price.

This situation gives Hamas an advantage and works against Israel, but Israel continues to allow aid trucks to enter Gaza despite these challenges.

If Israel intended to commit genocide, why would they enable these trucks?

Why Does Israel Attack Hospitals and Schools in Gaza?

Because Hamas has turned them into terror bases.

In the past 20 years, Hamas has turned Gaza hospitals, schools, and mosques into terror bases, hiding weapons inside civilian institutions. An unbelievable amount of weapons was discovered in Gaza University, hospitals, schools, and kindergartens. Weapons were even hidden in a double wall of a baby crib and under kids' beds. The staff of the hospitals are fully cooperating with Hamas, including the hospital managers. Moreover, Hamas has turned them into shelters for its terrorists. One of them, a hospital manager in Gaza, admitted this during an IDF interrogation.

For years, they have been launching attacks from schools and hospitals, knowing that Israel won't be able to attack these locations. They know that Israel follows international laws of war, and they use it against us.

Even though Israel knew about that, up until October 7 Israel avoided attacking civilian institutions (except for a few small targeted operations to eliminate a terror attack). But after the October 7 attack, Israel realized they could no longer hold back.

In this war, before the IDF attacked any hospital in Gaza, they made extensive efforts to notify and evacuate the medical staff, patients, and any other civilians sheltering there. Despite the delay it caused and the advantage it gave the enemy, Israel did not take shortcuts. On the other hand, Hamas violently prevented civilians from leaving the hospital. Then, after the attack, Hamas releases a video or photo of the incident, the news then publishes a big headline, and everyone condemns Israel. And thus, the manipulation continues!

Why Does Hamas Hide Behind Citizens?

This is part of Hamas's manipulation.

This is a manipulation targeting the Western world because they know it's a weakness in Western society. They understand that the Western world will be horrified to learn that innocent people are being killed in Israel's attacks, leading the world to object and pressure Israel to stop the attack.

The Hamas set of values is different. They have no qualms about sacrificing human life for their goals, exploiting our humanity and our set of values.

There's a Hebrew saying "לזרות חול בעיניים" (to throw sand in someone's eyes). That's precisely what Hamas is doing – throwing sand in the world's eyes – and it works out wonderfully for them.

If Hamas cares about the citizens' well-being as they claim, why do they hide behind them? why don't they let them hide from Israel's bombing in the underground tunnels?

The answer is simple:

Hamas are not Freedom Fighters, they are a terrorist Manipulation Machine.

Does Israel Break the International Law?

Israel obeys the international laws of war to the smallest detail. Every action carried out by the Israeli military or government is pre-approved by the Legal Advisor to the Government.

Israel, as a democracy with an independent court system, adheres to international laws of war down to the smallest details. Every action of the IDF is closely monitored by 150 lawyers to ensure compliance with these laws. IDF protocols mandate soldiers to obey these laws, and any soldier who accidentally shoots a Palestinian without justified reason can face trial and imprisonment. Decades of dealing with the impossible dilemma of deciding within seconds whether to shoot a Palestinian young boy and risk going to jail or not shoot him and risk losing their life. This dilemma reflects the challenging reality faced by Israeli soldiers.

Any Israeli, whether citizen or soldier, who attacks an innocent Palestinian will face legal consequences, including trial and imprisonment. While there is a small, extreme group of Israeli citizens who may desire to harm Palestinians, the legal system takes action against them, and some are currently serving sentences in Israeli prisons.

The Cruel Irony of Israel's Situation

The two situations described below highlight the disparity between the cruelty of Hamas and the humanity of the State of Israel.

Israel Saved Sinwar's Life

This story encapsulates the 'Catch-22' of Israel's impossible situation.

Adhering to the law extends to the decent conditions that Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisoners enjoy, even those convicted of murdering Israelis. One example is Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, who was convicted by Israel 35 years ago for planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers. While in the Israeli prison, Sinwar received medical treatment, including cancer treatments and dental care, from Israeli doctors in Israeli hospitals, free of charge. Released as part of the hostage soldier Gilad Shalit deal 13 years ago, he planned and executed the brutal October 7 attack.

Israel is Saving Haniyeh's Family's Life

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, is one of the main planners of the Oct 7 attack and is currently holding 136 Israeli hostages in inhumane conditions. These days, his sister, an Israeli citizen, gave birth prematurely, and the baby is now receiving life-saving medical treatment at Soroka Hospital.

Does it look like Israel is committing genocide??

Sinwar and Haniyeh are despicable murderers who brutally torture and kill their own people. The only freedom they're fighting for is the freedom of hate and racism.

"The October 7 attack didn't happen in a vacuum"

Is October 7 the result of the suffering in Gaza due to Israel's occupation?

Occupied?

Let’s check.

Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, with no Israeli soldiers there since then. If the Gaza Strip was still occupied, organizing such an attack would be impossible. Israel does control the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel because, without border control, there would be a significant threat to our security.

Didn't happen in a vacuum?

If murdering babies, raping women, and burning civilians alive in their beds don’t happen in a vacuum, then why do we need the Geneva Convention?

Claim: Israel is Colonial, While Palestinians Strive to Reclaim Their Land

Let's examine history – whose land is it?

Can the Palestinians rightfully claim the land of Israel?

The Palestinians claim that Israel took their land, and they believe they have rights to this territory. However, when they speak of "their land," they are referring to the entire property of Israel. Their stated goal is to destroy Israel and occupy the entire territory. Don't believe it? listen to their public speeches. This is evident from their public declarations and the educational books found in their homes. They do not acknowledge the right that Israel was granted by the UN in 1947.

How can Israel negotiate a peace agreement with an entity that does not seek peace?

Do the Palestinians Have the Right to the Entire Land of Israel? 

Is Israel an occupied land as the Palestinians claim?

Who are the "Palestinian People"? 

Historically, the Palestinians are the Arab people who live in Gaza and Yehuda & Shomron. They migrated to Israel before 1948 to make a living, coming from surrounding Arab countries. Examining history, the term "Palestinian people" did not exist before 1948; it emerged after the state of Israel was declared.

What is the origin of "Palestine"?

"Palestine" is the old Israel that belonged to the Israelites in biblical times. See below a photo of a Palestine pound, the currency of the British Mandate of Palestine from 1927 to 1948, and the State of Israel between 1948 to 1952, when it was replaced with the Israeli lira. The Palestine pound was also the currency of the Gaza Strip until 1951 when it was replaced back with the Egyptian pound.

The Hebrew letters "א"י" indicate ארץ ישראל, meaning, the land of Israel.

Who ruled this land before the state of Israel was established?

Before Israel was established, the British mandate ruled here, not a Palestinian state. Preceding the British Mandate, the Ottoman Empire ruled, dating back to biblical times when the 12 Israeli tribes were present. In this land's history, various people inhabited it, but none were identified as "Palestinian people".

After the British Mandate left Israel, the UN voted on Israel's right to establish a state on Nov 29, 1947. The UN decided on the Partition Plan to divide the land into two countries: Israel and an Arab state. Israel agreed, but the Arabs refused, desiring the entire land for themselves. A border was marked, known as the Green Line. The Arabs residing in Israel are called "Israeli Arabs" and enjoy the same rights as Israeli Jews. Those outside the "Green Line", in Gaza and Yehuda & Shomron, are called Palestinians.

Conclusion: The Palestenian's claim to Israel's land is not based on any historical basis.

"From the River to the Sea"

This slogan is often used by pro-Palestinians in protests against Israel. What does it actually mean?

The "sea" refers to the Mediterranean Sea, and the "river" is the Jordan River. In between, there are Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and other Israeli settlements. In fact, in between the "river" and the "sea", there is the state of Israel. Using this slogan effectively calls for the destruction of the state of Israel, as declared by the UN in 1947.

Does Israel Commit Genocide Against the Palestinians?

Genocide is defined as the intentional and systematic extermination or elimination of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. It involves actions such as mass killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm, or deliberately imposing conditions leading to the group's physical destruction. The term was coined after World War II to describe the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jewish people and other targeted groups during the Holocaust.

Does Israel commit genocide? Let’s check.

Look at these numbers:

Does it look like genocide?

In the Holocaust, 6 million Jews were murdered. The Holocaust is genocide.

The Arab population is getting bigger every year, this is not genocide.

According to Hamas killing Jews is a religious command, this is genocide!

How are Arabs Being Treated in Israel?

How are Israeli-Arabs being treated in Israel?

2 million(!) Israeli-Arabs live in Israel and enjoy the same rights as Israeli-Jews receive. They work as doctors, nurses, and soccer players, have the right to vote, and are represented in the Israeli government by 3 political parties. They even study in Israeli universities with a 100% scholarship that Jewish Israelis are not entitled to! You can follow Joseph Hadad, an Israeli Arab who explains a lot about the situation.

Does it look like genocide?

How are Palestinian prisoners being treated in Israel?

The Israeli prisons are full of Palestinian prisoners, many of them were convicted of murdering or attempting to murder Israeli civilians. Until October 7, they were not treated as terrorists, as they are; instead, they enjoyed the rights of prisoners that are much better than the international prison laws dictate. That includes rights to family visits, Red Cross visits, receiving books, magazines, and letters, daily trips outside, game tables, rights to buy products in the canteen, watch many TV channels, and even study for an academic degree. They also receive an allowance from the Palestinian Authority.

After October 7, their prison conditions were altered, and now they receive their rights according to international law, and nothing more.

Does this look like genocide?

If Israel wanted to commit genocide against the Palestinians, wouldn't it have done so years ago? Israel has the military capability to carry out such actions and could have systematically bombed Gaza for the past 20 years to take over the territory. Why hasn't it done so?

Before starting the current attack on Gaza, the IDF went far and beyond to evacuate the civilians from the war zone. If Israel wanted to genocide the Palestinians, wouldn't it be targeting the south of Gaza now, where most civilians are seeking shelter, and causing much higher casualties?

Does this look like genocide?

Does Israel Occupy Gaza?

Did you know that the Palestinians have had almost full autonomy for the past 20 years?

In 2005, Israel left the Gaza Strip and removed all forces. The Palestinians were free to manage their lives as they wanted.

They established their kindergarten system, where young children play pretend games of killing Israeli soldiers.

They established their school system, teaching hatred and advocating the killing of Israelis.

They are raising a whole generation with the belief that Israel occupied their territory, and do not acknowledge Israel's right to this land.

They established their court system, where suspects of betrayal were executed.

They established their academic studies, promoting hatred and advocating the killing of Israelis.

They established their military, with the sole goal of destroying Israel.

One thing they didn’t do – build a better future for their people. Create job opportunities, foster economic growth, invest in quality education, or aim for a better future for their kids. They received millions of dollars from Qatar and Western countries every year, investing most of their money and energy in terror.

Officially, Israel is occupying Gaza, but in fact, Gaza is acting as an independent authority. The Palestinians declare that they are fighting for their land, and doing everything to reclaim it. However, by "their land" they refer to the whole territory of Israel, the same territory given to Israel by the United Nations in 1947.

These are Israel’s neighbors.

What would you do if your neighbor, who lives on the other side of your fence, teaches their kids to kill your people, and does everything they can to destroy your country and take over your territory?

Why Do Palestinians Live in Poverty All These Years?

Because the Palestinian leaders chose to use the money for terror instead of the Gaza envelope.

Since the disengagement from Gaza in 2005 up until Oct 7, 2023, Israel had forces in the Gaza Strip, not even one soldier. Immediately after Israel left, elections took place in Gaza, and Hamas was elected as the leader.

The Palestinians had the freedom and financial resources to pursue prosperity. They had the potential to invest and thrive in Gaza. Israel allowed the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars every year from Qatar to develop the Gaza Strip, hoping it would help both sides to coexist peacefully. However, instead of using the funds for development and prosperity, they chose to channel all the money into acts of terror against Israel.

The money was mainly invested in purchasing an excessive amount of weapons, constructing approximately 700 km of underground tunnels, and preaching hatred and violence against Israel. The rest of the funds went to corruption. While leaders, their families, and relatives indulged in an extravagant lifestyle, residing in 5-star hotels, the majority of the population struggled to buy food.

Before 2005, the Palestinian Authority received money from Western countries, and again, instead of investing in the prosperity of Gaza, most of the money went to corruption.

Over the past 50 years, they had a chance to make the Gaza Strip prosper. They had the money and the freedom to do so. Up until today, they keep receiving money and keep investing in terror and corruption, leaving Gaza's people to live in poverty, and Israel to be blamed for it.

If they genuinely cared about their land, why didn't they invest the money in its development? Why didn't they take care of their people and strive to make Gaza a prosperous place to live?

They used the money to build terror instead of building a future.

Is Gaza Truly the World's Largest Open Prison Under Siege?

This is another lie perpetuated by Hamas. While some people in Gaza do live in poverty, the reality is that many others enjoy a high standard of living.

For decades, this has been the narrative pushed by Hamas to portray Gaza as a place trapped and oppressed by Israel, alleging that Israel blocks access to essential construction materials. The Palestinians suffer, with Israel bearing the blame. Even within Israel, Gaza is synonymous with a dismal place. But here's the truth about life in Gaza: there are poor neighborhoods in Gaza, and the unemployment rates exceed 50%.

However, there's another side to Gaza that Hamas doesn't want the world to see. It includes rich neighborhoods (like Tel El Hawa), fancy restaurants, luxurious homes with Mercedes parked outside, a water park, supermarkets stocked with a wider variety of products than in Israel, and even a large Carrefour store, among other amenities. Click here to learn more about this.

True, they cannot build an airport or a seaport, but it's far from being a prison.

This is the side of Gaza that Hamas doesn't want you to see.

If Gaza is indeed under siege, how could they afford to build such luxuries?

If Gaza is indeed under siege, how could they gather so many weapons that they used in the October 7 attack?

If Israel is Not to Blame for the Misery of the Palestinians, Then Who is?

The blame lies with the Palestinian leaders - Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

1. Over the past 20 years, they have received substantial financial aid every year, yet instead of using it for Gaza's development, they funneled it into terrorism and corruption.

2. Instead of providing proper education, they teach their children to hate and destroy.

3. During the current war, with Israel targeting Hamas, Gaza's extensive network of underground tunnels could have provided shelter for civilians, yet Hamas refuses to allow them underground to safety.

4. Not only do they refuse to let civilians use the tunnels, but they also prevent them from leaving the areas under attack by Israel.

5. They steal humanitarian aid provided by Israel, leaving their people hungry and deprived.

Why do they do this? To manipulate public opinion with images of starving or dead Palestinian children, gathering international sympathy and condemnation against Israel. This furthers their evil agenda to destroy Israel.

Anyone who supports them unknowingly supports their destructive plan.

If Israel Justifies Killing Civilians, Why isn’t Hamas Killing Civilians Justified?

Because Israel targets Hamas terrorists, and since Hamas hides among their people, civilians are getting killed. Hamas targets civilians. This is a huge difference.

The IDF is spending major efforts in separating civilians and terrorists, like no other country in the world!

Hamas, however, targets Israeli civilians.

There’s a difference between a terror organization that deliberately penetrates Israeli settlements killing civilians, and a democratic country, that makes great efforts to avoid hurting civilians, targeting terrorists hiding among their civilians.

Claim: Israel is Killing More Civilians than Hamas Killed in Israel, Therefore Israel Should Stop the War

Does the number of casualties indicate the justification of the war?

In World War II, 70,000 British were killed from the blitz bombing. On the other side of the war, 2 million civilian Germans were killed. Does it mean Britain's attack was not justified? Just because they had more casualties doesn’t mean their fight is fair. No one thought Britain was committing genocide. The cost of war is that innocents get hurt because war cannot be accurate. And when fighting in the most crowded urban place in the world, while civilians are used as a human shield, it’s even much less accurate. Israel's war is justified despite the number of casualties in Gaza.

Why Doesn’t Israel Stop the Attack Now?

Israel doesn’t fight against Hamas out of revenge for Oct 7. Israel is fighting to defend itself.

One reason is to return the hostages; the second reason is to defeat Hamas, which has declared in every possible way, for years, that its purpose is to destroy Israel.

If Israel stops the war, Hamas will repeat Oct 7 and again and again. They are already planning their next attacks.

Over the years, Israel has made numerous peace offers, all of which were rejected. Israel has consistently sought compromise in its efforts for peace, while the Palestinians rejected them all.

They don’t want peace with Israel.

The one thing they want is to destroy Israel.

The hostages:

Hamas keeps the hostages in such poor conditions that they barely maintain basic human rights. They receive hardly half a pitta per day, dirty water, almost no showers, no sunlight, and suffer physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Most of them are kept in tunnels underground, with little air to breathe, and no sunlight, like a dungeon. This information comes from first-hand testimonials of hostages who were released. Every minute there, they experience a living hell up close. Hamas doesn’t allow the Red Cross to visit them and provide medicine. Some kids were taken hostage without their parents. Can you imagine your child being taken hostage alone?? Some suffer from chronic diseases, some got injured and need treatment, and they need medicine. Hamas refuses to give them that. Some of them lost family members murdered on Oct 7, and they couldn’t even grieve while hostage; the terrorists guarding them didn’t allow them to cry or even hug each other. They couldn't attend their family members' funerals as they are still kept in captivity. Some of the hostages are Holocaust survivors, and the attack rekindled the trauma of the Holocaust. They are now being held as hostages at the ages of 70s and 80s!

One of the young hostages who was released said she didn’t sleep for 50 days the whole time she was hostage. She’s now suffering from epilepsy that arose because of that. The youngest hostage, Kfir Bivas, celebrated 1 year in prison!

In what twisted world is that normal???

Every second they're going through is 100% pure hell.

We Play Tennis, They Wrestle Without Gloves

The differences between us

Israel encourages their children to embrace love for others and learn self-defense. Israel operates under a legal system that condemns attacks on innocent Palestinians, and it has measures in place to penalize Israelis who commit such acts.

Most of the people who were attacked on Oct 7 lived in the Gaza envelop (the region within Israeli territory that lies near the border with the Gaza Strip). Many of them were peace activists and truly believed we could live in peace with the Palestinians. They hired them to work in their fields and naively welcomed them to their houses. They even helped them on a daily basis (drove them to our Israeli hospitals, etc.). After Oct 7 they realized that those same Palestinians actually gathered information about them and gave it to Hamas, aiding the murderers on Oct 7. What a cruel disillusion.

Those people were deeply involved in social action, spreading kindness and goodwill to the world. On October 7th, they were brutally murdered — with their communities, their families, their souls.

Israel, a democracy with an independent court system, is respected by other democracies for its judicial processes. It meticulously adheres to international laws of war, ensuring compliance down to the smallest details. Israel also dispatches aid missions to other countries to assist them during disasters, such as earthquakes, showcasing its commitment to humanitarian efforts.

How many Jewish terror organizations exist?

Answer: zero

The Palestinians, on the other hand, have a different approach. The IDF discovered compelling evidence in Gaza, revealing disturbing aspects of their education system. Schoolbooks are filled with stories glorifying Palestinians who killed Jews. Shockingly, videos exist where young children are being taught how to handle firearms. In their kindergarten parties, children are dressed as both Hamas terrorists and IDF soldiers, with simulated gunplay. Furthermore, it has been reported that some homes in Gaza contain copies of Hitler's book.

They don't teach their children about peace; rather, they implant the idea in their younger generation that all of Israel belongs to them. They preach to kill Israelis to take control of the land.

How many Muslim terror organizations exist?

Answer: Hamas, Hizballah, Isis, Taliban, and more.

After the Holocaust, Israel did not return to Germany to slaughter Germans. Instead, Israel spent all its efforts to build an independent country and also made significant contributions to the world. In contrast, the Palestinians chose to use the millions of dollars in donations they received to build a large terror infrastructure with the sole purpose of destroying Israel.

Hamas is More than an Organization, It's an Ideology

The educational institutes in Gaza all preach the Hamas ideology, as well as the mosques. It's not only the terrorists who hold this ideology; it's a whole generation that wholeheartedly believes in their goal of destroying Israel. Even if Israel defeats the Hamas, it's impossible to uproot the people's beliefs. This is why the decision on who will control Gaza when the war is over is so difficult.

"The West is Next"

This is not just a slogan. The extreme Jihad ideology believes that all people worldwide should be either Islamic or dead.

They openly express this ideology, and anyone supporting them helps them move closer to that goal. The evidence from the Oct 7 attack showed symbols and texts of the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Iranian tutorial books with ISIS symbols. A Hamas terrorist admitted to undergoing extensive training in Iran and receiving payment for it.

Hamas is ISIS! 

The Israeli journalist Zvi Yehezkali created a TV series called "Under a False Identity," where he went undercover as a Muslim, risking his life to expose the secret mechanisms and organizational methods of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe and the USA. Zvi gained their trust, and they shared their global plans for the Western world with him. While the series is not yet translated into English, you can use YouTube's translation option to watch it. It provides crucial insights into the activities of extremist groups located in Western countries: Watch "Under a False Identity".

The "Day After"

There is much discussion about the "day after," with some leaders strongly pushing Israel to establish a "two-state" solution. However, establishing a state for the Palestinians is deeply troubling for several reasons:

1. It potentially rewards Hamas for the attack on October 7th.

2. An entire generation in Gaza has been raised to hate and kill Israelis, believing that all of Israel belongs to them.

3. Hamas ideology dominates Gaza, so whoever governs Gaza "the day after" is likely to cooperate with Hamas.

4. How can we recognize a state for an enemy that doesn't recognize our right to a state on our land?

SUMMARY (if you're pressed for time)

To summarize the main points:

• Hamas fanatically believes that all of Israel belongs to Palestinians and encourages the killing of Israelis to take control. This idea is shared by Hizballah and Iran, who openly express it in public speeches.

• For years, Hamas has been hiding among schools, hospitals, mosques, UNRWA facilities, and underground tunnels, amassing weapons, knowing Israel won't attack there.

• Over the past two decades, Palestinians have enjoyed complete autonomy in Gaza, with the freedom to govern their lives as they see fit. They elected Hamas as their leader, who had the opportunity to foster prosperity in Gaza. Instead, they chose to spend all their resources on fostering terror and corruption.

• While Hamas's leaders indulge in extravagant lifestyles, their people languish in poverty.

• Hamas has also dominated Gaza's school teachings, brainwashing a new generation to destroy Israel.

• Israel, as a democratic nation, follows international war laws.

• 2 million Israeli Arabs live in Israel and enjoy the same rights as any Jewish Israeli.

• Israel went above and beyond to evacuate civilians from the war zone, while Hamas tried to block them from leaving.

• Israel continues to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite knowing that much of it is stolen by Hamas and ultimately used against Israel.

• Stopping the war now would endanger Israeli lives and the nation's existence, as Hamas would continue to rule Gaza, leading to more attacks like October 7.

Conclusion

Back to the question -

Can Israel Stop the War Now?

The answer is clear. If Israel stops the war now, it might just hand over the keys to Israel to Hamas. More and more young people worldwide have started to think that this is what we should do.

Why should we give them our land?

Would you hand over your land to your neighbor just because they believe it belongs to them?

Israel cannot and should not stop the war now.

An impossible situation

Israel has faced an impossible situation ever since its establishment. Balancing the principles of democracy and humanity against a brutal enemy that disregards the sanctity of human life, while defending our right to self-defense in the court of public opinion, presents an almost insurmountable challenge.

Israel has diligently protected the rights of Palestinians, an issue that has caused deep divisions within Israeli society. The extreme right in Israel contends that the government is overly protective of Palestinian rights, a stance that undoubtedly affects our ability to defend ourselves and often costs us lives.

 Over the years, Israel has endured numerous attacks performed by Hamas and has endeavored to minimize conflict as much as possible. However, the current situation leaves no other options.

The next time you come across photos showing the suffering of the people in Gaza, remember that while they were directly harmed by Israel, the true blame lies with Hamas, not Israel.

No one in Israel is pleased with the innocent Palestinians getting killed and losing their homes in Gaza, nor it was Israel's goal.

Israel is not fighting as revenge, Israel is fighting to defend Israel's existence.

Yes, innocent people are getting hurt. But it's either us or them.

Now that you're educated about the situation, if you have any suggestions — anything at all — regarding how Israel can protect itself without getting Palestinians hurt, please feel free to reach out to us.

Palestinians and Israeli citizens have one thing in common - both are victims of Hamas.

As a nation, there's nothing more upsetting than facing a second Holocaust, defending ourselves to prevent a third one, and seeing the world either silent or against us.

A Personal Note

These are truly heavy days for us, filled with worry and prayers for better times. Living in Israel has never felt so sad and scary. It's as if we've been living under a false sense of security all these years while our enemies grow stronger and more filled with hatred. I never imagined that my sons might one day participate in a real war.

Yet, despite the sadness and the unknown future, I still believe that this land is where I belong, and where I want to raise my family. I have faith that goodness will prevail over evil, that love will triumph over the darkness that hate tries to spread. Together, regardless of our differences - left and right, religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardic, Israelis and Jews in the diaspora - together, we will win!

ביחד ננצח!

Everything I wrote here is based on factual information published by formal authorities or obtained through first-hand interviews. If you notice any errors or feel that something important is missing, please don't hesitate to inform me.

Additionally, if you are aware of any facts that contradict what has been written here, I encourage you to share them with me. Your feedback is highly valued and appreciated. I urge you to share this blog with others to combat anti-Semitism.

After reading this blog, I hope you've been exposed to other aspects of the conflict and have gained a better understanding of the situation.

While Israel may be the stronger party in this conflict, it is also the victim. Those who are hesitant to believe in Israel should question why they lean towards trusting a terror organization.

Before you criticize Israel's actions from your comfortable home in your peaceful town, take a moment to consider the Palestinians' responsibility for their misery and what they could have done differently.

My 2 cents for you:

When forming an opinion about events happening far away, make sure you learn all the facts on both sides of the story. Use reliable news sources, as only relying on resources that show one side of the story can be misleading, and remember that not all information on social media is true. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the wrong side of the conflict.

There's a famous Hebrew song that goes: מה שרואים משם לא רואים מכאן - Whatever you see from there, you can't see from here.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Never Again is Now!