Read the latest from this week:
During a visit to Gaza this week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz approved operational plans for the Israel Defense Forces to continue military action against Hamas terrorists in the Strip. He reiterated the primary goal of the war, stating, “Our main goal is to bring the hostages home. If Hamas continues to refuse a deal, it will pay an increasingly heavy price. We will take territory, eliminate terrorist operatives, and destroy infrastructure until Hamas is completely defeated.”
It is essential to remember that this war is happening for one reason and one reason alone: the Hamas October 7th Massacre. Since that horrific day, Gazan terrorists continue to hold hostages and plot more terrorist attacks against Israel.
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PROTESTS IN GAZA
On Tuesday, at least three locations in Gaza saw large protests against Hamas rule; video clips circulating online captured residents chanting “Hamas out,” “Hamas terrorists,” “The people want to overthrow Hamas,” and “Yes to peace, no to the ongoing war.” Eyewitnesses noted that Hamas security forces attempted to disperse the gatherings, with reports of forceful interventions.
While it’s not immediately clear what triggered these protests, there can be no doubt Hamas’s rule of the Gaza Strip has been disastrous for the average Gazan, as billions of dollars of international aid have been siphoned into the pockets of the group’s leaders, many of whom live in luxury in Qatar. Even now, the terror group, in its refusal to release the hostages, brings more suffering to the average Gazan as its hatred of Israel and love of power overrides any consideration for over whom Hamas ruled.
As we saw the situation in the region evolving rapidly with renewed rocket attacks from Hamas and its allies in Gaza, and drones and missiles from Ansar Allah in Yemen, the protests against Hamas added an extra dimension. While American strikes against the Houthis continue to degrade their operational capabilities, and Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza, we cannot allow one thing to shift: the focus on the hostages, remembering them, and demanding they are released.
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Israel did not seek out war; war invaded its home, and like any sovereign nation, it has the responsibility to defend itself and free the people stolen from their loved ones arms on that Black Sabbath more than 500 days ago.
