Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media, citing the occupation army: We tried to "eliminate" Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida
Al-Mashat: I call on everyone worldwide to avoid dealing with any assets of the entity, and there is still an opportunity for settlers to return to their countries
Al-Mashat: A final warning to all companies in the occupation entity to leave before it’s too late
The Israeli occupation army carries out a deadly airstrike on a populated residential building in the densely populated al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City, resulting in dozens of fatalities and injuries: Al Mayadeen's correspondent
Al-Mashat: We say to Gaza, we stand firm regarding our stance, no matter the sacrifices
Al-Mashat: We will meet challenge with challenge, and you will no longer have any sense of security
Al-Mashat: We say to the Zionists, our revenge is unyielding, and dark days await you
Al-Mashat: We will take revenge, and we will come out victorious from the depths of our wounds
Al-Mashat: Our people are capable of overcoming all difficulties and challenges, and the enemy will not be able to break our steadfastness, nor will we be intimidated by raids or terrified by threats
President of the Yemeni Supreme Political Council Mahdi al-Mashat: The Government of Change and Building will carry out its duties in a caretaker capacity, and the blood of the martyrs will serve as a motivation for steadfastness and reconstruction

Do you condemn Hamas?

  • Imad Hatbe Imad Hatbe
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 21 Nov 2023 01:21
  • 5 Shares
5 Min Read

Why is war ugly and civilians considered collateral damage only when Palestinian lives are lost, yet it is "terrorism" when the oppressed people fight against their occupiers?

  • x
  • Do you condemn Hamas?
    The question you face when addressing the atrocities happening in Gaza (Illustrated by Hady Dbouk; Al Mayadeen English)

This is the first question you face when addressing the atrocities happening in Gaza. The first checkpoint to assess your humanity. You avoid answering this question; saying Yes means that you accept and justify the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, saying No corners you into the anti-Semitic zone, and you are labeled a "terrorist".

I want to answer this question loud and clear, but after a historical tour that might help in understanding the Arab’s point of view. What is currently happening in Palestine is not a religious conflict; it is one of the longest colonial settler projects aimed at the ethnic cleansing of an indigenous population. 

In 1948, the “free” world supported establishing a Jewish "state" in Palestine in redemption for the atrocities of the Holocaust. As a result, 750,000 Palestinian Muslims and Christians were expelled from their homes and their land. Nobody bothered telling those people who lived in refugee camps for 75 years why they had to pay the price for European crimes committed against Jews. Those refugees waited 75 years for the “free” world to pursue violations of 140 international resolutions. On the other hand, the alleged violation of one international resolution was enough to invade Iraq and Libya, killing 1 million Iraqis, but the violation of 140 resolutions was not enough to even acknowledge the Palestinian people’s right to return to their homes or let alone just their basic human rights.  

After withdrawal from Gaza in 2006, the IOF forced a siege on Gaza. Limited amounts of food, medications, water, and construction materials are allowed into Gaza, 99% of travel requests are denied, and the unemployment rate is at 67%. There are limited opportunities for education and advanced medical treatment and less than 1% opportunity to live in the world outside the walls of this open-air prison. This is how life was in Gaza for 16 years for 2.3 million individuals. 

Future is a meaningless word for people who have been living in refugee camps for 75 years, they concluded, and they were right, the world abandoned them and left them without choices. Don’t even dare try to feel appalled when hopeless, desperate people take their destiny into their hands and change it. It is so ironic to ask these people to act according to international and humanitarian laws when the “free” world ignored such laws in dealing with them.

In 2018, during the Great March of Return (a peaceful protest against the harsh living conditions in Gaza), "Israel" killed 214 Palestinians in Gaza, 36 of whom were children, and injured over 8000 civilians. One in five of those injured was targeted by live ammunition.    

Related News

The reek of desperation hangs over Albanese’s Iran conspiracy theories

Regional peace with the occupation a recipe for disaster

In 2022, 230 Palestinians, 171 in the West Bank and 53 in Gaza, were killed. The “free” world acted deaf and mute. Since 1948, the United Nations recognized tens of massacres committed by Israeli forces: in Deir Yassin (107), Tantura (200), Lyd (400), al-Dawayima (145), Qibya (69), Kafr Qasim (49), Khan Younis (40), Sabra and Shatila (3500), Bahr al-Baqar elementary school (30 children). Unlike "Israel", Palestinians do not have the right to defend themselves when their people are killed. In addition, not only the “free” world did not condemn "Israel", but it also used the VETO to make sure that no international resolution could condemn these massacres. No aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, or military experts were sent and no “free” world leader visited the region to express support or even condolences.

I do not condemn Hamas.

I see freedom fighters trying to liberate their country and defend themselves against atrocities committed against them for 75 years. Like the glorious French resistance against the Nazi occupation, those freedom fighters slapped the whole world in the face to wake them up from their criminal ignorant slumber to witness the plight of the Palestinian people.

I do not condemn Hamas in its pursuit of liberation. Why is war ugly and civilians considered collateral damage only when Palestinian lives are lost, yet it is "terrorism" when the oppressed people fight against their occupiers?

As we speak, 13,300 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives. Of those 11,000, almost half are children. They are, according to the “free” world, a kind of collateral damage as "Israel" exercises its right of “self-defense”. It is obvious that the Palestinian people are considered children of a lesser god, and it is not the first time and sadly not the last time that history sides with the occupier and not the occupied. 

It is not acceptable to support the Western practice of suspending humanitarian codes when it comes to people in other parts of the world. You can’t condemn actions in Ukraine and accept them when they are practiced on non–European, non–white people. White man supremacy, laws, and democracy don’t apply in our part of the world anymore. We are the victims of the white man’s hypocrisy and double standards, and we are not concerned with following in his footsteps.

It is our right to fight back, to struggle for a better world for our sons and grandsons, and to care about our national interests, not the interests of multinational companies. For all these reasons and much, much more, no, I do not condemn Hamas.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Gaza Strip
  • Occupied Palestine
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Palestine
  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation forces
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
Imad Hatbe

Imad Hatbe

Jordanian journalist

War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

All
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Those in Occupied Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria – directly affected by Israeli occupation and apartheid – can claim their right to armed struggle under a series of UN resolutions. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Resistance and regime change in occupied Palestine

  • Opinion
  • 17 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
War on Hospitals

War on Hospitals

The story untold

The story untold

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS