The charter of Hamas explicitly advocates for the extermination of Jewish individuals. Hamas lacks legitimacy as a political player in various respects.
Soldiers from the IDF Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Brigade in 2014 | Creative CommonsPhoto by Alexi Rosenfeld
World Workers Party published an official statement in "solidarity with Palestine" on October 8, 2023, saying the brutal attack on innocent civilians was "a heroic example for people longing for liberation from imperialism around the world". The statement did not denounce Hamas or the violence that it had committed against civilians, rather blaming the "white supremacist Zionist state for the Hamas attack". "The Israeli regime's murders, seizures of territories, illegal settlements and occupation made a response from the Palestinian people and their liberation organizations as inevitable as it was justifiable", the statement went on to read. It added, "The Palestinian movement and people have every right to strike back in whatever way they choose", saying, "The Palestinian organizations know that they face a ruthless enemy and have decided to launch a direct strike on that enemy."
Most within the left-leaning political sphere, and perhaps even among a significant majority, have unequivocally condemned Hamas' brutal conduct towards Israel. Pleasantly, many demonstrate an ability to reconcile seemingly contradictory notions: the recognition of Israel's morally abhorrent blockade of Gaza, alongside the acknowledgment that Hamas' actions are likewise morally reprehensible and lack any justifiable rationale.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said it best while scrutinizing the Times Square rally that transpired recently, in which an obvious display of support for Hamas was observed.
She said: "The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment. It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas's horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | CC BY-SA 2.0Photo by nrkbeta
Undoubtedly, the primary agent responsible for the subjugation experienced by the populace residing in Gaza is the state of Israel. However, the area is currently under the governance of Hamas, an organization whose track record has been characterized by a number of concerning factors.
They have promised and subsequently canceled elections, also seen in the case of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The prevalence of corruption is indeed a matter of great concern, exhibiting a significant impact on the socio-political landscape.
Regarding the matters of free speech, women's rights, and LGBTQ rights, the prevailing state of affairs can be characterized as regressive, aligning with one's anticipated expectations.
In light of a recent ruling rendered by a judicial body affiliated with Hamas in 2021, it has been determined that women are prohibited from undertaking travel without the presence of a male guardian.
Individuals residing in Western societies who possess a limited comprehension of the intricacies surrounding this matter, or those who possess such comprehension but consciously opt to rationalize it, are engaging in a disservice to the fundamental principles that ought to be safeguarded by all individuals who align themselves with progressive ideologies.
In the most favorable scenario, their perspective could be characterized as exhibiting a certain degree of naivety.
As Jamie Raskin put it, referring to the Times Square rally: "Hamas would have gladly slaughtered everyone at that rally just like they slaughtered all of the progressive young people at the music concert in Israel."
Again, the act of indiscriminately targeting and murdering civilian populations cannot be classified as a legitimate manifestation of either decolonization or self-defense.
There seems to be a lack of comprehension among even some members of the academic community about this matter as well.
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