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The heart-wrenching murder of six hostages, who endured nearly eleven months in the brutal captivity of Hamas, has left a deep scar on the collective conscience of Israel and the international community. This atrocity is a stark reminder of the inhumanity and barbarity that lies at the core of Hamas, a terrorist organization that has once again shown its disdain for life, peace, and any semblance of international norms. The palpable sense of frustration and anger that has swept across Israel is not only understandable but justified, as the nation grapples with the missed opportunity to save lives and the realization that dealing with Hamas is an exercise in futility.
In November, there was a glimmer of hope among Israelis that a deal with Hamas might lead to the release of hostages—albeit at a steep price. This hope, though frail, was rooted in the belief that even a terrorist organization might be swayed by the prospect of negotiation, especially when their very survival was on the line. But the cold-blooded murder of these hostages, including a high-profile U.S. citizen whose release had been publicly demanded by President Biden, has shattered that illusion. This heinous act sheds light on the fact that Hamas has no interest in engaging with the international community or in making deals that could lead to their own downfall. Instead, they are fixated on one goal: tearing apart Israeli society from within.
With Gaza in ruins and their leadership decimated, Hamas is a cornered beast, lashing out in a desperate attempt to achieve a pyrrhic victory. They know that any deal, no matter how favorable it might appear, is ultimately doomed to fail. Israel will not relent in its pursuit of justice and security, will not abandon its efforts to eradicate Hamas, and will not allow any temporary concession to undermine its long-term strategic goals. Hamas understands this reality, which is why they have abandoned any pretense of negotiation in favor of a far more insidious strategy: sowing division within Israel.
The murder of the six hostages was not just an act of violence; it was a calculated move designed to deepen the fissures within Israeli society. Hamas knows that the only way they can succeed is by turning Israelis against each other, by provoking internal discord and weakening the social fabric that binds the nation together. The 101 hostages still held in Gaza are not merely pawns in this deadly game—they are the last, desperate card Hamas has to play, a tool to incite fear, anger, and division among Israelis.
But the true target of Israel’s rage should not be the internal divisions that Hamas seeks to exploit. The blame lies squarely with Hamas, the ruthless captors who lived with the hostages for months, only to slaughter them in cold blood. This act of barbarism reveals a complete lack of humanity, a sickening ethos of hatred and death that drives Hamas. These murderers, who likely emerged from their tunnels and disappeared into the civilian population with no remorse, have shown the world their true nature. They are not freedom fighters or defenders of a cause—they are butchers who revel in the suffering of innocents.
The international community, and Israel in particular, must recognize this atrocity for what it is: a deliberate attempt by Hamas to destabilize Israel from within. The rage and frustration felt by Israelis must be directed not at each other, but at the true enemy—Hamas, an organization that thrives on chaos, division, and death.
Hamas has played its hand, and it is one steeped in blood and betrayal. But Israel cannot allow this tragedy to fulfill Hamas’ twisted agenda. The strength of Israeli society lies in its unity, its resilience, and its unyielding commitment to justice. In the face of such unspeakable cruelty, Israel must remain strong, focused, and united against a common enemy that seeks nothing less than its destruction. The memory of the slain hostages demands that Hamas’ attempts to sow discord be met with renewed determination to stand together, resist division, and ultimately, to triumph over terror.
The recent call for a general strike by Arnon Ben-David, the director of the Histadrut (Israeli Labor Union), and the widespread protests demanding an immediate deal with Hamas, represent not only a misdirection of anger but also a dangerous gift to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. This moment of disunity is playing directly into the hands of those who seek to weaken Israel from within.
The frustration and anger that have gripped large swaths of the Israeli public are understandable, particularly in light of the tragic murder of hostages who had endured nearly eleven months in captivity. However, directing that anger towards the government, and specifically towards Prime Minister Netanyahu, is not only misplaced but counterproductive. The general strike ordered by Ben-David, which sought to pressure the government into signing a deal with Hamas, is a glaring example of how internal divisions can cause more harm than good.
The decision to call a general strike at this juncture is nothing short of an act of self-inflicted harm. The Israeli economy, already strained by the ongoing conflict and global economic pressures, cannot afford the additional burden of a shutdown. More critically, this strike does nothing to advance the cause of those who genuinely seek the safe return of hostages. Instead, it sends a message of weakness and disunity to Hamas, emboldening Sinwar to continue his brutal tactics.
The fact that the courts delayed discussing petitions against the strike until midday Monday only adds to the sense that political motivations, rather than genuine concern for national security, are driving these actions. Fortunately, the majority of the Israeli public recognized the futility of the strike and chose not to participate. Yet the damage had already been done—both to Israel’s economic stability and to its image of unity in the face of external threats.
There is no doubt that Yahya Sinwar, a man who has shown time and again that he thrives on chaos and destruction, is reveling in the current state of Israeli disarray. The protests and strikes, far from pressuring him into a deal, have likely convinced him that time is on his side. Every moment of Israeli indecision, every sign of internal strife, strengthens his hand. Sinwar can now afford to wait, secure in the knowledge that his enemies are weakening themselves through division and discord.
This scenario is eerily reminiscent of historical moments when internal divisions within the Jewish community led to devastating consequences. The memories of Tisha B’Av, a day that commemorates the destruction of the Temples due to baseless hatred and internal strife, should serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of disunity. Israel cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past, especially when facing an enemy that seeks nothing less than its destruction.
In the harsh realities of the Middle East, strength is often the only language understood by those who wield power through violence and terror. The Bedouin response to the murder of one of their own on October 7th offers a stark contrast to the current Israeli approach. By promising a million-dollar reward for the avenger of Abu Issa’s blood, the Bedouin sent a clear message: justice will be served, not through negotiations with murderers, but through decisive action.
This is a lesson that Israel would do well to heed. Hamas does not respect deals made from a position of perceived weakness. On the contrary, any sign of Israeli capitulation only encourages further violence and extortion. The fact that a Bedouin captive emerged alive from Hamas tunnels while Israeli hostages were mercilessly executed is a chilling testament to the effectiveness of threats over concessions in this region.
Israel stands at a crossroads. The path of disunity, characterized by strikes and protests that weaken the nation from within, leads only to further suffering and emboldens those who seek its downfall. The alternative path—one of unity, strength, and resolve—offers a chance to confront Hamas with the determination and fortitude necessary to protect the nation and its people.
