Understanding Hamas Attacks on Israeli Settlements: Clarifying Misconceptions and Examining the Reality

Introduction

The question of whether Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has targeted Israeli settlements has been a contentious issue, with various narratives and misinformation abounding. This article aims to clarify this issue based on factual information and to dispel common misconceptions.

Misconceptions and Reality

One common confusion involves the definition of settlements. Antisemites often mistakenly categorize every town and village in Israel as settlements. However, in a geographical and political context, settlements refer specifically to communities built in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The towns and villages attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were not these settlements but rather areas under Israeli control within Israel proper.

.attack Claims and Iran’s Involvement

The argument that the Hamas attacks are linked to Iran’s desire to prevent a US/Israel/Saudi treaty is unfounded. While Iran supports Hamas financially and logistically, the primary motivation for the 7 October rocket attacks on Israel is Hamas’s ideological commitment to the annihilation of Israel, as outlined in their Covenant.

Hamas’s Ideology

Hamas is a terrorist organization advocating for the establishment of an Islamic theocracy in the area, viewing every settlement as a symbol of the ongoing conflict. Their Covenant, released in 1988, makes its stance crystal clear:

"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."

Furthermore, their Covenant calls for jihad, stating:

"The stones and trees will say O Moslems O Abdulla there is a Jew behind me come and kill him."

Hamas defines itself as:

"Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes."

Historical Context

The attacks by Hamas are not a reaction to Israeli military or government policies alone but stem from their core belief in eliminating the Jewish state entirely. Their hostility towards the Jewish people predates the Oslo Accords, which were signed in 1993. The idea that settlements hindered peace before the Oslo disaster is also misleading. Prior to the 1993 Oslo Accords, significant peace talks and agreements had been made with Egypt, such as the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in 1979, which demonstrated that peace was possible without settlements.

Conclusion

The reality is that Hamas attacks on Israeli settlements are rooted in their radical ideology and the desire to erase the state of Israel entirely. These attacks are a reflection of their ongoing war against the Jewish people, not a response to specific Israeli policies or military actions.

To summarize, Hamas attacks on Israeli settlements are not about preventing a US/Israel/Saudi treaty or addressing the presence of settlements. They are a manifestation of the group’s extremist ideology, which seeks to eliminate Israel through violence and jihad.