Hamas a terrorist group that used innocent Palestinians to advance their antisemitism evil

Echo opinion by Todd Goldblum in the Albuquerque Journal:  Hamas must surrender because a cease-fire just extends the conflict.

On October 7, the world witnessed one of the most barbaric, evil, and disgusting attacks on humanity. 

The rape of young girls and women, the beheading of babies, burning people alive, and the slaughter of pregnant women. The murderous villains, Hamas, have boasted many times what is stated in their charter: They will continue their genocide against the Jewish people and that October 7, was only a preview.

Hamas’ crime against humanity also extends to the Palestinians — they use women and children as human shields, they store weapons and bombs in mosques, schools, and hospitals. They block the Palestinians from fleeing military areas, and they steal vital humanitarian aid — food, water, energy, medications — from the Palestinians to be used for their war and terror machine. 

Hamas has no tolerance for civil and human rights for their own citizens: homosexuality is punishable by death, women are subject to honor killings, and children are sent on suicide missions.

In 2005, Israel vacated Gaza and helped provide the Palestinians with the necessary raw materials to create vital infrastructure to support a thriving, peaceful society. Instead, Hamas stole these materials in order to terrorize, bomb, and murder Israeli citizens including babies and children. Every time this happens, Israel’s attempt to disable Hamas ends in a cease-fire. We’ve had a cease-fire for 18 years and Hamas continues its attack on humanity.

As with any urban warfare, civilian casualties are inevitable — that doesn’t diminish the tragedy of innocent lives lost. It is Hamas who is solely responsible for this catastrophe. And yet, Israel’s response has been like no other military in the world: They announce the specific location of attacks against Hamas in order for civilians to seek safety. This is done with hundreds of thousands of dropped leaflets, text messages, emails, and voicemails. 

Israel provides truckloads of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, which is promptly stolen by Hamas. Israel values the sanctity of life and does more than any military in world to prevent Palestinian casualties, while Hamas does all it can to maximize Palestinian casualties.

To those who are calling for a cease-fire: If you lived next to terrorists who have slaughtered your loved ones, and then vow to do it again, what would you do? Would any country ever tolerate such an attack as the one of October 7, with a cease-fire?

A cease-fire is a call for death and a win for Hamas and inhumanity. It will allow them to rearm and continue their violence and abuse of citizens both Israeli and Palestinian. Just as one would not call for a cease-fire against the Nazis in 1944, a call for a cease-fire now is inhumane. This is a war that Hamas started and that Israel did not want. Why should Israel retreat when they were attacked? 

Where is the call for Hamas to surrender and release all hostages? 

There would be immediate peace and no more deaths. Where is the condemnation of the horrific inhumanity inflicted by Hamas? If Hamas laid down their weapons there would be peace. If Israel did the same with a cease-fire, there would be more genocide against Jews.

Todd Goldblum is a past board member of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico.