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?

Gaza terror tunnel destroyed

Gaza’s terror tunnels are in the news again.  Earlier this week, UNWRA reported a tunnel located under one of their schools. Once again, Hamas is cynically using their own children as human shields to protect terrorist infrastructure.  Today, Israel discovered a tunnel that began in KhanYounis, in Gaza, and led into Israel.  It was still under construction. It was the 3rd such tunnel into Israel discovered since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge

Israel destroyed the tunnel, killing at least 7, including a senior member of the al-Quds Brigade, Islamic Jihad's military arm. Members of Hamas on a “rescue” mission were also killed.  Twelve others were reported injured.

Martyrdom photos are beginning to appear across social media.

Tragedies often bring people together.  Islamic Jihad and Hamas were able to put aside their ideological differences, and show unity in their shared battle against the world's only Jewish state.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to the media: " I told you many times before that we are developing breakthrough technology to deal with the tunnel threat,”  “We are implementing it. Today, we located a tunnel, and we destroyed it.”

Israel also is constructing an underground barrier to prevent further tunnels crossing into Israel. 

UPDATE:  Nov.3

The bodies of 5 more Islamic Jihad terrorists have been found in the tunnel, making a total of 12 dead.

Hamas Terror Tunnel discovered under UN School in Gaza

Earlier this week, UNWRA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees uncovered a tunnel belonging to Hamas underneath 2 elementary schools in  Gaza 

The tunnel passes underneath both the Maghazi Elementary Boys School and the Maghazi Preparatory Boys School.

The agency has filed a complaint with Hamas and has stated:

"It is unacceptable that students and staff are placed at risk in such a way," it said. "The construction and presence of tunnels under UN premises are incompatible with the respect of privileges and immunities owed to the United Nations under applicable international law, which provides that UN premises shall be inviolable. The sanctity and neutrality of UN premises must be preserved at all times."

The agency also said it condemns “the existence of such tunnels in the strongest possible terms,” adding that it was “unacceptable that students and staff are placed at risk in such a way.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon  responded to the news by stating “the cruelty of Hamas knows no bounds as they use the children of Gaza as human shields. Instead of UN schools serving as centers of learning and education, Hamas has turned them into terror bases for attacks on Israel.”

Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories  (COGAT's) response

On June 1st, a Hamas terror tunnel was discovered under the UNRWA School for Boys in Al-Maghazi.

Hamas’ act of using children as human shields with complete disregard for their lives is appalling, but sadly not surprising. The Arab world is in agreement and has shown complete understanding about who is responsible for ruining the lives of Palestinians and their prospects for a better future.

On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian newspaper Okaz issued an article with the statement: ”Hamas is the one leading Gaza into humanitarian disaster in that it takes over and confiscates humanitarian aid and threatens the lives of residents as it digs tunnels under schools and hospitals in order to take advantage of residents as human shields."

It is clear that the Arab world has recognized Hamas as responsible for the destruction of the Gaza Strip, eliminating any hope of a positive future for the Gazan people. Perhaps the time has come for the residents of the Gaza Strip to draw the same conclusion.

Terror groups in Gaza have used UNRWA facilities in the past.  A UN inquiry found  that Palestinian groups hid weapons in three UN-run schools in Gaza and  likely used UNRWA schools  to fire rockets at Israel during Operation Protective Edge.

For more information

UNWRA discovers Hamas Tunnel under Gaza schools

UNRWA uncovers Hamas-dug tunnel under school in Gaza