To the editor:
I witnessed the “Free Palestine” march through Great Barrington and I felt sorry for the marchers who had been convinced that Israel is the cause of what happened 10/7, not the Palestinian leadership and especially not Hamas.
Those in Gaza were given the freedom to run their part of the world when Israel left in 2005. They had an election, which Hamas won. Hamas took over, created tunnels and constantly attacked Israel. There has not been another election since then. That is what they did with their freedom.
After losing three wars, Palestinians are still a lost people. For 75 years they could have had peace, prosperity and a nation state had they followed Japan and Germany’s example after WWII by unconditionally surrendering. Today, those two countries have strong economies and are world leaders.
An organizer of the March stated false information.
“Hamas is an indigenous anti-colonial resistance group,” Chambers told The Berkshire Edge.
- No, Hamas is a terrorist organization, funded by Iran that cares little for the citizens of Gaza. Hamas used the cement meant to build and repair to create a tunnel network to attack Israel. Since the time of Moses, Jews have been there. They are not colonizers.
“The Al-Aqsa Flood was a powerful statement of resistance to genocide.
- Genocide is the complete annihilation of a people. Although Israel is capable to do that, they have never contemplated such a move. Just like Hitler, that is the Hamas plan for Jews and Israel, genocide.
“We do not have any compelling evidence that civilians were deliberately targeted. In fact, every piece of evidence we have is to the opposite, which we cannot say for the bombardment of Gaza that has occurred.”
- As Hamas was killing innocent men, women, children, babies and the elderly, they videoed their cruelty, sometimes on their victims’ phones and sent those videos to their families.
A Hamas leader proclaimed that October 7 will happen again, and again, and again. Another Hamas leader stated that their soldiers were ordered not to kill civilians, women, children, and the elderly, just soldiers. Obviously, if that message was delivered, it was ignored.
The only group that is not mourning the loss of innocent civilians, especially children, is Hamas — the reason being that people like those who had a rally in Great Barrington are convinced that Hamas are oppressed freedom fighters. If Hamas really cared about the citizens of Gaza, they would release the hostages, some of which are babies and elderly, but that does not serve their purpose. Israel must neuter Hamas and then work for peace, but only if Palestinians will stop hating.
It’s a negotiation. Take what you can get. It’s that simple.
Frank Gunsberg
Great Barrington
