Hamas’s chilling betrayal of its own people
Providing a platform for extremists to further overextend, the narrative of Israel being a "colonialist, genocidal and apartheid state" is currently a trendy opinion.
I am a simple Jew in 2024. I like hot cholent on Shabbat, and I come from a long line of lawyers. My grandfather complains too much, and I’d rather drink instant coffee than overpay by a dollar in today’s inflated economy.
Standard simple Jew behaviour, matching my morning reading material. Much like most other simple Jews in 2024, I sift through the daily slew of Israeli war information – and disinformation, mind you – over my cup of instant Joe. I ask myself: how low will terrorist defenders stoop in their quest for injustice? Apparently, low enough to play limbo in hell with the devil. False accusations and “Pallywood” content run rampant, while there’s a clear disregard for the half of our hostages who are still alive, living in feral conditions with swords on their necks.
Providing a platform for extremists to further overextend, the narrative of Israel being a “colonialist, genocidal and apartheid state” is currently a trendy opinion. Palestine is Instagram and X’s new underdog, everyone’s favourite pariah. Today’s most popular “unpopular opinion” implies a devastatingly virulent, antisemitic rhetoric. The lack of any police response in Amsterdam underscores this.
On our side of the war’s media coverage, we have been swept up in a courageous yet desperate wave of counter-journalism, feeling the need to defend ourselves from lies at every twist and turn. We battle on a frontline designed by the lies of our enemies, leaving us to play an embittered defence – batting away absurd accusations and pointing to the facts that so much of the world refuses to acknowledge.
Despite this, and at the risk of being another large tree in a deafeningly silent forest, I wish to share another fascinating perspective that sheds much light on the true war narrative. I can only pray that the world contends with the following story of sacrifice and heartbreak – themes that have become poignantly yet proudly familiar to us. This is the Jewish people.
The October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas included a deliberate, preplanned strategy aimed at creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza to manipulate international opinion and pressure Israel. Yotam, a representative of COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), emphasised that before the attacks, Israel had been deeply invested in humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including providing 18,700 work permits for Gazans to work in Israel and collaborating on projects such as “Gas for Gaza” to address power shortages.
However, just before the attacks, Hamas began preparing to escalate the situation. On October 7, they bombed their own electricity lines, cutting off 90 per cent of Gaza’s power, and destroyed critical water infrastructure. As Yotam notes, “Hamas prepared in a calculated way … they deliberately destroyed their own infrastructure, leaving their population in a terrible situation.” This is not speculation – it is fact. These premeditated actions created severe deprivation for Gaza’s civilians, while Hamas used the resulting suffering to frame Israel as the aggressor. This destruction was not an accident; it was part of a broader effort to create a crisis for propaganda purposes.
Nevertheless, COGAT has continued its humanitarian efforts. Yotam stated, “Despite this, COGAT continues to address the needs of the uninvolved civilian population.” Israel has sent over 52,000 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza and continues to facilitate medical evacuations and infrastructure repairs. The IDF, through COGAT, has worked to provide food, water and medical supplies, coordinating with international partners to ensure aid reaches civilians.
Yotam summed up Israel’s ongoing commitment: “Why do we continue doing everything we can for the Gazan population after everything that has happened? Simply, because these are our values as Jews.”
Hamas’s actions were a chilling betrayal of its own people. By deliberately destroying vital infrastructure – electricity, water, and key aid routes – they orchestrated a man-made catastrophe, all in a ruthless bid to create suffering and manipulate the world’s view of the conflict. Their goal was clear: to twist the narrative and force Israel into the role of the villain, while Gaza’s civilians bore the brunt of their cruelty. Yet, in the face of this calculated destruction, Israel has remained unwavering in its commitment to deliver aid, repair the damage, and protect those who are innocent.
Even as Hamas escalated the violence and suffering, Israel’s humanitarian efforts have not faltered – because, no matter how dire the situation, Israel is determined to save lives, not destroy them.
Harriet Warlow-Shill is the founding partner of Warlows Legal.
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