Hamas wants attention. It deserves only condemnation | Opinion

For the last 15 years, I have co-taught a class on religion and politics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The class encourages students to move beyond the slogans and protest signs in order to engage all the complexities of a multi-faceted conflict that has lasted over a century.

We encourage students to seek to understand all the varieties of perspectives, and to consider how deeply felt, lived experiences inform the many viewpoints found among all those connected to the conflict.

Given this background, my general response to inquires about the conflict usually begins with, “It’s complicated, but…”

The events of this past weekend are not complicated. Hamas’ actions deserve widespread and unequivocal condemnation, especially by supporters of the Palestinians. Many commentators are using the current hostilities to revisit the complicated history and untenable present of the conflict.

“But what about the injustices committed against the Palestinians?” they counter. Such discussion now only rewards Hamas for their horrific actions. This is exactly what Hamas wants and we shouldn’t be complicit in their scheme. The discourse around this war needs to focus squarely on Hamas and their actions.

Ever since the final collapse of the Oslo accords in the mid 2000s, the international community has largely and understandably thrown their arms in the air, as diplomatic fatigue and compassion ennui have replaced urgency. Occasionally, U.S. presidents who want to salvage their reputation or vie for a peace prize revive a peace plan, but the conflict has gradually slipped from the headlines. The slow trickle of deaths on both sides barely makes the news. Hamas and the Palestinian cause were losing the battle for public attention.

Horrific acts of terrorism are violent calls for public attention. It says to the world, “Look at us, for what would lead to such desperate acts?”

Hamas hopes the world will quickly forget the atrocities that have occurred this past weekend and pivot to the past or criticize the inevitable future response. But moving straight to analysis only dehumanizes the toll of the conflict. Thousands of innocent deaths— on both sides — should not be swept under the rug, or allowed to be a pretense for re-adjudicating the conflict with “rational and just discussions.”

In the case of Hamas, it is also a transparent and desperate attempt to hold onto power within Gaza. Since taking over Gaza in 2007, Hamas has been a failed government, where corruption and graft are enforced by the muzzle of a gun and every internal failure and self-inflicted wound is redirected to the feet of Israel. Hamas has regularly relied upon provoking Israel as a tool to swing public approval toward them, for they know that its citizens understandably rally around the flag during times of war.

This playbook has worked in the past, at the severe cost of Palestinian lives and prosperity.

Hamas also wants to burnish its extreme anti-Israel credentials, against their rivals: Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and Fatah. Hamas’ attacks within Israel will not gain territory or advance negotiations for a lasting peace accord but it will allow them to loudly pronounce that they are doing something, unlike their rivals. They are betting that any sort of resistance, however futile, can be packaged better than none. Cathartic hollers attract attention, even when they do little to change the conditions behind the pain.

However, the people of Gaza should not accept merely being pawns in Hamas’ ploys for attention or internal powerplays. They are going to suffer horrifically, especially since Hamas will use schools, hospitals and religious institutions as shields for their fighters. I know some commentators will say that hey have been already suffering, but there is no moral high ground left when Hamas massacres young people and take children and the elderly captive. Hamas may start the wars but the ultimate price paid is by everyday Palestinian citizens.

This perspective does not mean that we should never criticize Israel and especially Netanyahu’s government. The current Israeli administration has eroded democracy, promoted divisive settlements, deliberately provoked Muslims at al-Asqa mosque, and repeatedly stood in the way of creating a lasting peace, but none of these shortcomings warrant the slaughter of innocents.

Thoughtful conversations indeed need to occur, but only after Hamas is removed from places of power and influence. When the political party in power hasn’t held an election since 2007, you are not a legitimate state but a rogue organization more in common with the mob than ancient Athens.

So to my many friends for whom the Palestinian cause is important: In this moment, you don’t need to stand up for Israel but if you really care for the Palestinians, you should stand up against Hamas. The priority of human dignity requires that we do not move on, do not equivocate, and do not justify the horrific attacks over the weekend. Ultimately, the Palestinian cause today is only harmed when we begin, “It’s complicated, but…”

This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 1:32 PM with the headline "Hamas wants attention. It deserves only condemnation | Opinion."