Dear John,
On Sunday we reported, ‘Act for America Stands with Israel- Iran Waging War Against Israel Through Hamas, Hezbollah, and Other Proxies’.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, has launched a significant and unprecedented attack on Israel.
This dire situation unfolds against the backdrop of a staggering human toll, with the overall death count surpassing 1,200 individuals, marking one of the deadliest episodes of violence Israel has faced in recent memory. At least nine Americans have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as reported by the National Security Council. The precise number of Americans who are missing or held hostage remains uncertain.
This devastating single-day attack by Hamas has resulted in a loss of life nearly equivalent to the cumulative casualties Israel suffered over the past 23 years. Prior to this attack, Palestinian terrorist actions had claimed approximately 1,415 Israeli lives since the year 2000. Regrettably, the death toll has now climbed to 2,615, underscoring the immense tragedy and loss experienced by the Israeli people.
Hamas is dedicated to Israel's destruction and seeks to establish an Islamic state in its place. Since taking control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has engaged in multiple wars with Israel, launching thousands of rockets and conducting deadly attacks sowing a long trail of violence and instability in the region. Hamas is widely designated as a terrorist group, backed by Iran, which provides funding, weapons, and training to the organization.
Hamas' recent cross-border attack from Gaza has exposed a major Israeli intelligence failure, arguably one of the gravest in decades. Despite Israel's well-funded and extensive intelligence apparatus, including Shin Bet, Mossad, and the IDF, they either failed to anticipate this operation or, even more concerning, disregarded the warning signs. This lapse is especially baffling given Israel's significant network of informants within Palestinian militant groups and neighboring countries. Hamas' assault represents a blatant and dangerous challenge to Israeli security, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of their intelligence and counterterrorism efforts. Some are calling this attack “Israel’s 9/11”.
The October 7th attack took place amidst escalating Israeli-Palestinian tensions, marking the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank. Speculation surrounds the potential role of Iran, Israel's arch-enemy, in orchestrating the attack, particularly given the escalating hostilities between the two nations. This assault may also be designed to undermine the prospects of a historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, should Israel's response provoke outrage in the Arab world.
Hamas's financial web is deeply entangled, with 70% of its funding flowing directly from Iran, while the remainder is siphoned from foreign aid relief, contributions from the Palestinian diaspora, support from ideological non-Palestinian entities, and assistance from countries across the Gulf, Western Europe, and North America. This diverse financial network underscores the global implications of Hamas's activities.
HAMAS, short for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement), is the predominant militant organization and political party in the Palestinian territories; it originated from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. HAMAS is dedicated to armed resistance against Israel and aims to establish an Islamic Palestinian state in lieu of Israel. Since 2007, it has effectively governed the Gaza Strip, displacing the Palestinian Authority. With an estimated membership of 20,000 to 25,000 individuals, HAMAS employs various tactics, including improvised explosive devices, rockets, small arms, cyber operations, and more, targeting Israeli military and civilian entities, as well as other armed groups in Gaza.
The Hamas Charter declares "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."
The Muslim Brotherhood, established in Egypt in 1928, harbors a grand ambition of transforming the world into a theocratic empire governed by strict shariah (Islamist) law. With its presence in 80 countries, the Brotherhood's ultimate goal is to restore the caliphate and exert Islamic dominance over nations worldwide. As its founder, Hassan al-Banna, declared: "It is in the nature of Islam to dominate, not to be dominated, to impose its law on all nations and to extend its power to the entire planet."
Engaging in negotiations with terrorists who harbor an unyielding commitment to the genocide of an entire nation is not only futile but morally reprehensible.
Their ruthless agenda allows no room for meaningful dialogue or peaceful resolution.
It's imperative to permanently dismantle these long-standing terrorist entities that have inflicted havoc upon the world for far too long.
