Hamas: Misplaced priorities during the global pandemic

The world is at a standstill with shelter in place orders interupting all but the most basic routines.  Governments are investing significant resources to test and treat Covid-19 patients. Scientists are studying the virus, looking for points of weakness, and potential vaccines. 

And in Gaza, they are shooting rockets at Israeli civilians, and digging terror tunnels.

On Tuesday, a rocket was fired from Gaza, targetting Israeli civilians in the southland. And today the military wing of Hamas- the al-Qassam Brigades- announced the death of 25-year-old Moamen Ahmed Abu Hajar after a terror tunnel he was working in collapsed.

Two examples of the woefully misplaced priorities of Hamas, directing their resources towards terror.

Moamen Ahmed Abu Hajar

Moamen Abu Hajar was given a hero's funeral in Gaza, with no adherence to the  "social distancing" guidelines meant to reduce the spread of infection.

Funeral of Moamen Ahmed Abu Hajar

Moamen Ahmed Abu Hajar in happier times, presented for those that still claim the tunnels are the work of a desperate starving people.

Why is Hamas spending its money, its time, and its energy on terrorism in middle of a global pandemic?  Why do they continually prioritize taking Jewish lives, rather than saving Palestinian ones?

Hamas official calls for attacks on the World's Jews

Fathi Hamad, a  high ranking member of the Hamas has called for the genocide of the Jewish people worldwide.

In  a video from a speech to participants at the weekly Gaza riots, Fathi Hamad declared "Seven million Palestinians outside, enough warming up, you have Jews with you in every place. You should attack every Jew possible in all the world and kill them."

"If this siege is not undone, we will explode in the face of our enemies, with God's permission. The explosion is not only going to be in Gaza but also in the West Bank and abroad, God willing,"

"But our brothers outside are preparing, trying to prepare, warming up."

Read more at the Times of Israel:
Senior Hamas official calls on members of Palestinian diaspora to kill Jews

74% of those killed in Gaza last week were terror operatives

According to a recent report published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 74% of the casualties from last week violence in Gaza were members of terrorist groups. 

Of the 23 killed,  eight  were members of Islamic Jihad operatives, five were Fatah operatives, two Hamas operatives and one was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terror group.

Innocent civilians killed in Gaza

690 rockets were launched at Israel last weekend from Gaza.  In response,  the IDF targeted terrorist infrastructure, including weapons caches and operations rooms., many of which were located in personal residences.  Before the houses were attacked the IDF warned their occupants so they could leave.

Among the Gaza dead included Mahmoud Subhi Issa, 26.

Fawzi Abd al-Hamid Bawadi, 24

Muhammad Abd al-Nabi Armaneh, 30

Hamed Ahmed Abd al-Khoudary, 34, was killed in a targeted attack on his vehicle.  Al-Khoudary was responsible for transferring currency from Iran to terrorist organizations within Gaza.

Hamed Ahmed Abd al-Khoudary before

Hamed Ahmed Abd al-Khoudary after

Sadly, several innocents were killed within Gaza, as well. Saba Abu ‘Arar, a 14 month old toddler was killed when a rocket stored in her family home prematurely exploded. 

While many on social media tried to pin  \her death on Israel

other sources within Gaza admitted  the truth

Our prayers go out to the families of Israel, who have spent 36 hours under bombardment. We pray for their safety and the safety of the Palestinians who are also the unwilling victims of their extremist leaders. Above all we hope for the day when the Palestinian leaders lay aside their hatred, end the incitement and glorification of violence and reach out for peace with their neighbors in Israel.

Another Gaza Rocket Attack

A rocket fired from Gaza rocket hit a private home in Mishmeret early Monday morning. The home collapsed. Six people inside were reported injured, including 2 children. The 6 month old infant and 3 year old child were taken to the hospital with burns and shrapnel wounds.

Damage from a rocket, launched from Gaza 

This area is north of Tel Aviv,  and the attack represents a serious escalation of hostilities. 

Both Hamas and Islami Jihad  have rockets with the capacity to strike this deep into Israel. Both the J-80, and M-302, a variation of the Syrian-made version have a potential range of 200 kilometres.

Hamas has denied responsibility for the attack, and instead has blamed it on the weather.

Hamas at 31

Hamas turned 31 this year, and they threw themselves a party

All the cool kids came.

They showed off all their new toys, too.

The so called "siege" of Gaza doesn't appear to have effected Hamas's ability to rearm itself.

Tell Hamas: Free Avera Mengistu

It is 4 years, this week that Avera Mengistu has been held captive by the Iranian funded terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza.    Avera is a mentally ill Israeli civilian.  Hamas refuses to allow visitation or contact with his family members.  His family has received no assurances that his condition is being medically managed.

Avera Mengistu, 30, is a Jewish Israeli who emigrated as a 5 year old from Ethiopia. He is one of 10 children.  Avera was exempt from serving in Israel's miltary because he struggles with schizophrenia. In September 2014, he was last seen approaching the Gaza border. It is widely believed he is currently in the custody of the Hamas terror group

The International Red Cross and Amnesty International  has met with Avera's family, who provided medication in hopes it could be transfered to Avera.  

From Ilan,  Avera Mengistu’s older brother.:

“Avera’s story is completely different ... He never held arms. He ended up there by mistake. He is mentally ill,” said Mengistu’s older brother, Ilan. “We know it’s complicated, we understand that, but at the end of the day, we are talking about an innocent man who is being held there against his will.”

Hamas has not released any information on Avera's condition.

The world was in uproar over a 17 year old Palestinian woman arrested for assaulting an Israeli soldier.  Their silence on Avera is  deafening.

The Truth Optional World of Gaza's Dr. Basem Naim

Dr. Basem Naim is head of the Council on International Relations in Gaza , and the former minister of Health in Gaza.

He's among the top tier of Hamas.  He knows better. When he lies, he does so deliberately.

                                         

Today, Basem Naim tweeted out a photo of the instagram famous daughter of an American basketball player, claiming she was Bayan Abu Khammash, a toddler allegedly killed in an Israeli airstrike.  While the truth was struggling to get its pants on, the image went viral.

The "Ace" family,  who are active on social media have not yet issued a statement over the shameless misappropriation and exploitation of their child's image

This is not the first time Dr. Basem Naim has used his Twitter account to spread misinformation.

California Burns. Israel Burns

California faces its worse wildfire season ever, with hundreds of thousands of acres scorched, with homes and businesses destroyed, and lives tragically lost. Ten thousand miles away in Israel the fires burning have a different and terribly tragic twist- each of them was deliberately set by Hamas terrorists.

Photographs of this man-made tragedy are on display at the United Nation in New York until August 10, organized by Israel's Mission to the UN. The exhibit is called "The Effects of Arson Kites on the South of Israel.”

More photos of Israel's devastated southlands  are available at the Jerusalem Post

PETA takes a stand against Palestinian eco-terrorism

Since April, over 800 arson fires have ravaged southern Israel, destroying forests, nature reserves and agricultural fields, and jepoardizing the health and safety of the residents. Using molotov cocktails, firebombs and other incidenary devices, Hamas-funded terrorist from Gaza have destroyed over 2500 acres. Most recently, a falcon, teathered to a steel wire with flammable material at the end, was found hanging in a tree near the Gaza border, according to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

Israeli park ranger for 17 years, Kobi Sofer has said it will likely take many years for the entire ecosystem to recover. Sofer has witnessed scorched porcupines, snakes, turtles, lizards and other rodents and insects, all innocent victims of Hamas eco-terrorism.

Breaking the silence of animal rights organizations and environmental groups, Peta declared:

 Facebook

"As an animal-protection organization, PETA notes that animals claim allegiance to no nation, don't choose sides, and can only rely on human beings to show them mercy, and it is unacceptable to use them as weapons of war."

Israel Under Fire

In the last 24 hours, over 200 rockets and projectiles were launched from Gaza in a campaign of terror targeting Israeli civilians.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis spent the night huddled in safe rooms, or reinforced staircases.

A family in Sderot was injured after their home took a direct hit. Speaking from the hospital, Aharon Bucharis stated  

All the glass in the living room flew toward us, the whole house was filled with smoke, there was blood everywhere, shouting and madness. The neighbors called emergency services, I had shrapnel in my face and legs, my wife and daughter had in their heads....

 A synagogue and a playground were also damaged.

In response, Israel retaliated with strikes against a wide range of terrorist targets, including the headquarters of Hamas's Beit Lahiya Battalion, urban warfare training facilities, weapon storage warehouses, and a Hamas training facility with an underground tunnel .

Two teens were killed in the strikes.

The Western media  has been largely silent  about the attacks on Israel.

Hamas stealing Eid packages in Gaza

Gazans are speaking out about Hamas's theft of  Eid Care packages, earmarked for the communities poor.

From the StandWIthUs  Facebook page

Palestinians speak out!

A Gazan resident recently wrote that Hamas is stealing aid sent by Saudi Arabia to the people of Gaza. The letter says: "I am Mazen Abuta, citizen from Khan Younis. (I am) sending my letter to Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia. I swear by Allah, I have not received any help or any aid, because this aid goes only to Hamas, I swear and testify this in front of Allah."

The letter was shared in a post about how meat packages that were sent to Gaza that no one was allowed to sell but Hamas.

Original post (Arabic)

Another work accident in Gaza

A explosion in Gaza today has been reported to have killed at least 6 members of Gaza's Qassam Brigade "engineering unit".

"Martyrs"  include Taher Shahin 29 years Wissam Abu Mahrouk 37 years Musa Salman 30 years old Mahmoud, 34 years old Mahmoud al - Tawashi 27 years Mahmoud al - Kishawi 27 years

The official word from Gaza was to blame Israel, but local contributors to Twitter weren't sure how to handle the spin.

Officials from Israel denied any involvement.

UPDATE:
The Hamas  "engineers" were buried  today with full military honors.