Approximately two weeks ago, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, returned to the international headlines when he was linked to the deadly surprise attack carried out by the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, on Israel townships surrounding Gaza on the morning of Saturday, October 7.
Last week the media got it wrong. Israel did not strike a hospital in Gaza, in fact no one did. The explosion everyone saw was the result of a failed rocket from a militant group in Gaza that landed in the parking lot adjacent to the hospital. Yes, people were killed, and people were injured. The lot was being used as a triage area for the wounded and was also hosting many displaced people. At first, the estimates were that 200-300 people were killed, then it became 500-600. The world was fuming at Israel, despite Israel’s insistence, and Al Jazeera’s live-feed confirmation that it was a failed launch from Gaza which caused the explosion.
Over the weekend, Israel welcomed two prominent members of the Biden administration: Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. These high-profile visits carried both symbolic and pragmatic implications for Israel's relationship with the United States.
In the aftermath of a tragic event that witnessed the deadliest attack on Jews in a single day since the Holocaust, the world finds itself grappling with a challenging narrative. While the brutality of Hamas is evident, there's a growing tendency to scrutinize Israel's response, leading to questions about proportionality and international standards. In this exploration, we will draw a meaningful comparison with the fight against ISIS to shed light on the complexities surrounding these two distinct conflicts.
Five days have elapsed since Hamas’s terrorists breached Israeli borders, perpetrating a litany of appalling acts such as rape, torture, and kidnapping. Further shocking revelations emerged yesterday, detailing the live immolation of individuals and the beheading of infants. In what constitutes Israel's first major conflict since the Yom Kippur War of 1973, social media personalities are offering extensive coverage. Engaging in live YouTube debates, Instagram interviews, and conversations on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces, a range of commentators—both amateur and professional—are weighing in. While perspectives naturally vary between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine stances, a sizable portion of these voices claims to aim for unbiased reporting.