On a serene Saturday morning, Oct. 7, as Israeli families slept on Shabbat, Hamas broke its ceasefire with Israel an committed the most horrific terror attack in Israel’s history.
More than 1,200 Israelis were massacred — raped, tortured, burned alive, beheaded — by a terrorist group openly committed to killing all Jews. Hamas kidnapped more than 240 people, including babies as young as 9 months old and an elderly, disabled Holocaust survivor.
Israel is responding to ensure Hamas can never carry out such an attack ever again. Hamas has already vowed to do so again if it can.
This war is painful, on both sides. Israeli soldiers must fight above and below ground in a dense urban setting. Hamas, with its 40,000-strong army, has deliberately embedded itself among innocent Palestinians civilians, using them as human shields.
This isn’t a war Israel sought, but it’s one that it must win. And America must have its back.
"Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed on one day." - Israeli President Isaac Herzog (October 9th, 2023)
Who is responsible for the civilian casualties in Gaza?
Hamas is solely responsible for the loss of civilian lives that results from its decisions to attack Israel and use civilians as human shields.
Why does Israel target civilian areas?
Israel does not target civilians. Despicably, Hamas has turned civilian areas into legitimate military targets. Over the past 15 years, Hamas has turned Gaza into a militarized fortress — terror tunnels beneath buildings and schools, fighters hiding among civilians, buildings used as both apartments and for terrorist headquarters — systematically using civilians as human shields.
How does Israel minimize Palestinian civilian casualties?
Contrary to Hamas’ disregard for Palestinian civilians, Israel goes above and beyond to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza —warning Palestinian civilians to evacuate prospective targets through text messages, phone calls and by dropping leaflets, even though it inevitably means also warning the terrorists. During this war, Israel urged Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza to temporarily move south to minimize casualties, and provided them with ample time to do so. While over 1 million Palestinians have evacuated, Hamas prevented others from leaving the conflict zone with roadblocks and armed terrorists.
How should we view civilian casualty numbers in Gaza?
Any civilian casualty is a tragedy, but casualty figures from Gaza should be viewed with great skepticism. On Oct. 25, 2023, President Biden said, “I have no confidence in the [casualty] number that the Palestinians are using." The “Gaza Health Ministry” is controlled by Hamas, and the information it releases cannot be trusted.
Why is it wrong to call for a ceasefire?
As the State Department said on Oct. 23, 2023, “Any ceasefire would give Hamas the ability to rest, to refit, and to get ready to continue launching terrorist attacks against Israel. You can understand perfectly clearly why that’s an intolerable situation for Israel.” Senior Hamas officials have repeatedly made clear that they would carry out additional Oct. 7 attacks if given the chance.
Support the emergency security assistance package for Israel.
AIPAC strongly supports the president’s $14.3 billion funding request for Israel, and we urge Congress to approve it expeditiously to ensure Israel remains strong and can win this war. Calls for adding new political conditions on vital security assistance to Israel are dangerous and wrong, especially while our ally is fighting a war to defend its citizens and defeat terrorism.
Continue to publicly stand with Israel against Hamas.
In addition to providing direct military support, America’s leaders must provide Israel the time and diplomatic support needed to protect its families and drive Hamas out of Gaza. America’s support for Israel must be consistent, loud and unequivocal.
Oppose calls for a ceasefire until Israel has achieved its objectives.
Congress must reject any calls for a ceasefire now. A ceasefire would allow Hamas to stay armed and in power in Gaza, ready, able, and emboldened to continue attacking Israel. Hamas is using Palestinians as human shields to maximize civilian casualties so that the narrative flips as soon as Israel takes action. Calls for a ceasefire play into the narrative that Hamas is no longer the aggressor and is now the victim.
