ESSF publishes this statement as part of oue coverage of Palestinian and Israeli reactions to the current crisis. We do not share the Da’am Party’s assessment of the role of the US and the Biden leadership of a suposed democratic bloc. However, our readers may be interested in their analysis of the increasingly right wing Israeli regime.

On October 7, the Hamas organization committed crimes against humanity, when it harmed civilians, children, the elderly, women and men in the communities surrounding Gaza. The actions of Hamas during that day, have so far amounted to 1,400 dead, thousands wounded and 200 kidnapped. But, the long-term damage of these acts may be more severe. This was an injury not only to the Israelis, but also to the Palestinians and to any future fabric of life.

The Da’am party supports the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to a life of freedom and dignity in this country. Da’am opposes the Israeli military rule over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, and has consistently worked - sometimes under difficult conditions of isolation - for a just solution, which will guarantee the Palestinians equal rights to those of the Israelis.

At the same time, Da’am has always denied the Islamic extremism that the Hamas organization represents. We watched with concern Hamas’ takeover of the Palestinian arena and the destructive discourse that developed within it. We acted and hoped for the restoration of a Palestinian democratic force, which would oppose the extremist ideology, which is based on hatred, and denies any possibility of a political solution and peace between the two peoples.

All Israeli governments preferred Hamas as the influential and controlling party in Gaza. Despite repeated rounds of fighting, and despite the promises of Netanyahu and the other Israeli leaders, Israel acted consistently to give Hamas legitimacy. She saw him as an efficient subcontractor, while ignoring the organization’s dangerous ideology, and the terror it used against the residents of Gaza.

This disaster could have been prevented

In 1993, with the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Da’am party opposed the agreement, claiming that it lacked any basis that would allow for sustainable peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority, established as part of the Oslo Accords, was soon revealed to be a corrupt entity, unable to provide the residents of the West Bank and Gaza with an alternative to the Israeli occupation rule. The Palestinian Authority agreed to the continuation of the settlements and rightly aroused the hatred of the Palestinian street. The Hamas organization took advantage of the weak points of the Oslo Accords and the Palestinian Authority. He began spreading his poison theory among the Palestinians, while accompanying it with bus bombings and a campaign of terror against the citizens of Israel. This bloody reality fed the Israeli right and strengthened it. The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in October 1995 was a defining moment in the history of the conflict, in which the extreme right established its dominant position in Israel.

In 2005, Ariel Sharon implemented the disengagement plan from Gaza. The plan for a unilateral withdrawal, without an agreement with the Palestinians, was like a gift to Hamas. Sharon’s goal was to leave Gaza in order to consolidate Israel’s hold on the West Bank, thereby neutralizing any political move that would require withdrawal and dismantling of settlements. The policy that was based on the separation between the West Bank and Gaza (the “Principle of Separation”) has been adopted by all Israeli governments since then. It was supposed to create security for the Israelis, while relying on a kind of ceasefire, Hudna, with Hamas. This is how the terrorist organization in Gaza became Israel’s partner in the management of the Strip. Even repeated rounds of fighting with him did not change the perception that Hamas is the ruler of Gaza and we have to put up with that.

On October 7, 2023, Israel reaped the fruits of this wrong and destructive concept. Now, after 18 years, the circle is closed. Israel is at a point where it has no other choice, and it needs to regain control of Gaza. The barbaric attack by Hamas was a strategic, military, social and political blow that shocked Israel and changed it completely.

The future ground invasion of Gaza will be done at an unimaginable cost to the Israelis and the Palestinians. From the Israeli side - a long and cruel war, which may become multi-arena, will claim many young lives, damage the economy and destroy resources that could have been directed to welfare and development. From the Palestinian side - thousands of innocent victims, and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Already today (10/18) there are more than half a million displaced people in the Gaza Strip, who are fleeing to the south of the Gaza Strip in the hope of getting out of the range of fire.

This human tragedy will burn the consciousness of both nations for many years to come. Hamas and the Israeli government are directly responsible for this. As mentioned, keeping the Hamas organization as the sovereign controlling Gaza after the disengagement was a common interest of Hamas and the Israeli right. Despite the imagined reality in which Gaza was as if an independent state under the leadership of Hamas, in practice the strip remains closed and enclosed and completely dependent on Israel. Supply of electricity and water, issuance of identity cards, the shekel as the official currency, the introduction of food products and fuel - the key to all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip remains in Israel’s hands. All the governments of Israel, with the support of the countries of the world, participated in the creation of this illusion, which was shattered by the unimaginable show of terror by Hamas on Israeli soil.

The symbiotic relationship between Israel and Hamas

In January 2006, Hamas won the elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council. Ismail Haniya, the leader of Hamas, became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. However, instead of acting as the leader of a responsible political entity, the Hamas organization used its position to strengthen its military power. In June 2006, militants of the organization kidnapped Gilad Shalit. In June 2007, amid the chaotic reality created by the kidnapping, the Israeli blockade and the ongoing military pressure, armed Hamas operatives attacked the activists of the Fatah organization in the Gaza Strip, and took control of all the institutions, while using brutal violence against their opponents.

Hamas opposed the Oslo Agreement, which did not prevent it from participating in the elections to the Palestinian Parliament that were held on the basis of the Oslo Agreement. Hamas used the Oslo Accords as a platform to take control of the Gaza Strip, and through it, it hoped, one day, the entire Palestinian people as well.

In 2011, under pressure from the popular movement in Israel, which demanded the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli government finally gave in and agreed to a prisoner exchange deal. In exchange for the return of Gilad Shalit, more than a thousand prisoners were released, including Yahya Sinwar, who became the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and is the executor of the terrorist attack on October 7.

This is how the power of Hamas was built. From an organization that possessed in 2007 a limited number of mortars with a maximum range of 2 km, Hamas has become a strong military force, equipped with thousands of missiles that can reach Tel Aviv and Haifa. While building an underground city of tunnels in Gaza, Hamas has positioned itself as the official representative and the exclusive of the Palestinian people, similar to the PLO at the time. Its leaders, who mostly live abroad, are received as honored guests in the Arab world and also in countries such as Russia and Iran. The Palestinian Authority, which failed to manage the territories it received from Israel, and became corrupt and cut off from the people, had difficulty competing with Hamas and establishing its supremacy.

The absurdity of Israel’s policy, that instead of distinguishing between the residents and the leadership that took over them, and treating Hamas as a cynical terrorist organization that uses the Palestinians in Gaza as hostages, Israel allowed Hamas to control the Strip and strengthen its military power.

Hamas’s policy was based on the fact that in any case of an Israeli military attack, the resulting humanitarian disaster would create pressure in the world, isolate Israel, lift the blockade over the Strip, and increase the legitimacy of Hamas. In this way, the organization will be able to continue looting the humanitarian aid funds intended to help the residents of the Gaza Strip, and use it to manufacture missiles.

As a fundamentalist, deterministic organization that does not aim for a political solution, Hamas had no problem tying the fate of the Palestinians to the regime of the Ayatollahs in Iran - a regime that has nothing to do, neither religious nor national, with the Palestinian people. In 2012, the leaders of Hamas left Damascus, after condemning the Assad regime’s massacre of the Syrian people, most of whom belong to the Sunni community, to which the majority of the Palestinian people also belong. This disconnect cost Hamas a crisis in relations with Iran, the sponsor and right-hand man of the murderous regime in Damascus. The crisis ended in 2022, with the visit of Hamas leaders to Damascus, and the renewal of relations with Iran.

Hamas’s attitude towards Israel was based on the assumption that Israelis are stupid. First, because they are democrats, an idea that is not acceptable to extreme Islam, which sees democracy as a weakness. And secondly, because they are liberals, an obscene phenomenon according to the same concept, because it sanctifies consumerism and is disconnected from spirituality.

Indeed, in the name of that “spirituality” the emissaries of Hamas committed a barbaric massacre of helpless civilians. Hamas spokesmen deny the massacre, and claim that the civilians who were killed are victims of the “Hannibal” procedure that Israel used to prevent the taking of prisoners. This is despite the fact that all the atrocities committed are photographed and documented in the detailed instructions received by the “Al-Nukba” forces who went to the Jihad war. The Arab press ignores the massacre, and cooperates with Hamas in brainwashing millions of people around the world. However, the facts cannot be hidden. 1,300 bodies, including 500 bodies that were burned alive by the rioters, until they cannot be identified. Live testimonies and photographs that prove the crimes committed by the messengers of Hamas.

In the long run, Hamas was wrong in its calculations. The organization’s leadership overestimated its role as Israel’s subcontractor. It failed to understand that without Israel, it has no existence in space. Perhaps she trusted that the Hezbollah organization and Iran would come to her aid, and start a war of Gog and Magog against Israel. The excessive sense of security of the Hamas leadership led it to the conclusion that by means of a strategic attack on Israel, it would turn from a subcontractor into an independent force. She did not take into account that this type of action would leave Israel no choice but to eliminate the organization.

The Americans and the protest take command

The Hamas attack found Israel in the midst of an existential struggle for its image - will it be a liberal democratic state, or a dictatorship in the making. A protest movement unprecedented in its scale, stood up against a dangerous coalition of the messianic fascist right, including dark religious leaders and power-hungry and corrupt politicians. While we saw the protest movement as a source of hope and an opening for correcting Israel’s wrong and forceful policy, Ismail Haniyeh and the Hamas leadership saw it as a weakness that could be exploited.

The Israeli army relies on technology and intelligence on the one hand, and on air power that relies on the professionalism and motivation of the pilots. The erosion in the motivation of the air force pilots, caused by the dictatorial hijacking that the government tried to carry out, seemed to the Hamas leadership as a golden opportunity. In addition, Hamas’ intelligence managed to gather information about Israel and hide its plans from it. His men knew exactly how to get to the operations room of the Gaza Strip using an accurate map that they had in their possession. [vi] The Hamas people knew everything there was to know about the Otaf settlements and avenues and routes. Every group of Hamas that infiltrated Israel knew exactly where it was going and what it was doing.

The Israeli army was shocked and had difficulty functioning for 48 hours. The ones who saved the residents were the police and the border guard, and citizens who went out on their own to the killing field to rescue their relatives. The Israeli public was struck by deep anxiety, due to the exhaustion of the army and the political leadership.

Into this governmental vacuum entered the American administration, which acted to prevent any possibility of Israel collapsing. The Churchillian speech of American President Biden showed how leadership should be shown in a place where there is no leadership. He expressed unconditional support for Israel, and warned those who want to take advantage of the situation, that they had better be careful - DON’T was the word he repeated twice. Biden declared that Hamas is an existential threat to the Israeli people, thus making it clear that Israel’s war of defense is justified.

From the moment Biden was elected, we claimed, despite the criticism hurled against us, that he is the only factor in the world that stands against dictatorships and fascism. This time too, Biden realized that he had to intervene, because the collapse of Israel would have become a threat to democracy in the world, and to the national security of the Americans themselves. A victory for Hamas is a victory for Iran’s axis, Putin’s ally, thus threatening Ukraine as well.

The Israeli right flirted with Putin, and refused to support Biden in the uncompromising war for Ukraine. The attack by Hamas revealed that today there are two camps facing each other, face to face: the USA, Europe, Ukraine and Israel on one front, facing Russia, Iran, Syria and possibly China on the other. The sending of the Sixth Fleet to the Mediterranean and the withdrawal of the American umbrella was intended to save Israel. It restored security to the Israelis, and for the first time a consensus was formed in Israel around Biden’s courageous leadership.

Since 2011, the Dem party has closely followed the events of the Arab Spring in Syria. A spring that turned into a brutal winter. Russia and Iran came to the aid of Assad, and helped him massacre the Syrian people, which created a huge wave of refugees, most of whom arrived in Europe. When Putin invaded Ukraine, we supported Ukraine without reservation, as someone who defends democracy against dictatorship. The elimination of Hamas, as far as the Biden administration is concerned, is also necessary in the face of the evil axis of Russia, Iran and their metastases in the region. Biden declared his support for Israel, because this democracy is important, not only for the Israelis but also for the Palestinians and for the possibility that the Arab Spring will return. The forces that emerged in the Arab Spring will not be able to strengthen and change the face of the Middle East, as long as it is ruled by fundamentalist or monarchical dictatorships. In the USA itself, a war is still going on for the soul of democracy. The Trump camp, supported by Putin and showing sympathy for Hezbollah, is a danger to the American people and humanity.

Many young people in the Arab world, among them prominent intellectuals, still judge reality according to the old paradigm: Russia = USSR - it is on our side; USA = aggressive imperialism - it is the enemy of the nations. This perception also dictates their sympathetic attitude towards Hamas and Hezbollah, and the definition of these organizations as freedom fighters. Many supporters of the FREE PALESTINE movement fall into this trap. The fate of the Ukrainian and Syrian peoples is a testimony to the great lie underlying that perception. When Israel today accepts the leadership of the US, it is actually breaking away from the line led by Netanyahu, who linked it to the axis of the dictatorships.

A decisive role for the protest organizations

The second factor that saved the situation in Israel was the protest movement, which since October 7 has been leading the massive aid campaign on the home front. From the very beginning, the protest realized that Biden was an ally that could be trusted, and therefore also unfurled the American flag in Kaplan. The leadership of the movement demanded that Biden not meet with Netanyahu. Now the protest movement has become the backbone that holds Israeli society together. This is very important, because the alliance between Israel and the US was completely undermined during Netanyahu’s time, in which Israel behaved as an independent entity, hostile to the Alliance of Democratic States.

When we decided to support the protest movement, we did so because it was a movement that engraves democracy and equality on its banner. The dominance of the Israeli flag in the protest demonstrations was problematic in our opinion, because it prevented the creation of a common denominator with Arab society. At the same time, we understood that in essence this is a democratic movement that does not exist in the Arab world.

Biden does not support Israel because he is a Zionist. The elimination of Hamas is in the interest of the entire democratic axis, including Europe and Israel. Israel’s attitude in the past was that Biden does not understand what he is doing. We are Israelis who know how to walk a tightrope, and we will manage to tame Hamas and use all sides to our advantage. We have no one to rely on but ourselves. The war started by Hamas on October 7 put an end to this approach as well.

Da’am’s position - to get rid of the Israeli fascist right, and also from Hamas with which he cooperated

Whoever sees what is happening in Gaza today and says that it is a human tragedy is right. A million Gazans were thrown into the streets, and are forced to evacuate to the south of the Gaza Strip. It is not at all clear what will be the fate of helpless women, children and old people. We oppose the extremist voices in Israel that demand revenge, and identify Hamas with the Palestinian people. We call for action as much as possible to prevent harm to civilians, and to ensure humanitarian corridors that will allow the UN forces and others to protect the lives and well-being of the residents of Gaza.

The big question is, can Israel even eliminate Hamas, given its current political situation, and the morale blow it has suffered? This question has not yet been decided. Another strategic question, which will arise as soon as Israel completes the military move, is who is the party that can replace Hamas and control Gaza? On the other side are the Palestinians and their supporters, who should ask themselves honestly, are they in favor of a Hamas victory over Israel? Are they ready to live in a country with a fundamentalist regime such as Iran, Lebanon, or Iraq?

We want Hamas to be defeated, but do not believe that victory will be achieved under the leadership of Netanyahu and the group of fascist settlers who, to our delight, have lost all public support. In Israel, a government led by elements from the protest movement, which defined the parameters of a democratic state, will have to be established. The protest leaders and their supporters are busy day and night helping the citizens, filling the vacuum created by the government’s dysfunction, and they are telling Netanyahu: if we win the war, it will be in spite of your leadership and not thanks to it.

As soon as the fighting in Gaza ends, a fateful struggle will begin within Israel to remove Netanyahu and his people from power. We are preparing for the moment, and will try to assist and promote this struggle with all our strength. The victory of the democratic protest movement over the fascist forces in Israel will also open a new phase in relations between Arabs and Jews. The Palestinian arena without Hamas will change fundamentally. In the last two decades, Hamas has succeeded in preventing any free discourse. Any liberal opinion was silenced. Any cooperation with Israelis was defined as normalization. If we manage to get rid of Hamas, and the fascist right in Israel, all possibilities will be opened for the examination of a common peace. That is why it is a decisive campaign on both fronts.

It is important to note that many of the residents of the Gaza Strip, those who were killed or kidnapped, supported a political settlement with the Palestinians, including with Hamas. The thought that you could achieve peace on the basis of siege and separation, and put up with the existence of a terrorist regime, a few kilometers away from your home, disappeared on October 7. The concept of two states, one of which is ruled by a regime “without the High Court and without B’Tselem”, assuming that this “suits the mentality” of the Palestinians, also collapsed in the terrible disaster. We must recognize that both Gaza and the West Bank are geographically connected to Israel and economically. We have been living for years in the reality of one country, in which an apartheid regime of national discrimination between Israelis and Palestinians prevails. Until we are ready to live in equality with the Palestinians, in one democratic country in the geographical space between the Jordan River and the sea, this terrible bloody conflict will not be resolved.

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Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)

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