Gaza Truth

I recently read a post by a Facebook friend where she writes about how since 2005 the Israeli government had tried to live alongside "innocent civilian residents" of Gaza and had tried to ease restrictions on them. 

So as a historian, and as a person who was very politically involved with many of the “makers and sayers”, and as someone who was actually involved in many of the aspect’s vis-vis Gaza the “Innocent Civilians of Gaza”.

I edited / rewote here what she wrote to reflect all the facts

Years ago, and I refer to the 1970's, we in Israel-the IDF- saw the hardships in the "Disputed Territories".

We at the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) allowed for the increase in the importation of construction materials for the construction of a fishing seaport, grey water purification, desalination plant, sewage -flood water system and expanded and revitalized electricity plant.

Additionally we decided to provide more work permits inside Israel so that the poorer residents specifically of the lower class could improve their and their families lives. 

As we were the Military government in control of the disputed territories prior to a negotiated peace. We strove to improve the lives of those lower class and "dirt poor" landless refugees -the UNWRA receipients- who had been settled by the  Jordanians as well as the Egyptians in squalid "Refugee Camps" .

As such we initiated the construction of proper water "clean water" as well as a proper sewage -and grey water- systems. 

We also built on and improved the hospital facilities as well as clinics. in ALL the "Disputed Areas"

Regretfully with the return of Arafat in the failed "Oslo Accords" and the murderous suicide attacks by the "Shebab" during the "Intifada" and accession of Hamas to power in 2007.  The dream of a "Just and Lasting Peace" a bubble of Western imposed "Kumbayaism" burst!

The threat of waves of murderous suicide attacks from Arab residents of the "Palestinian Areas" of Judaea and Shomron were thankfully curbed by the construction of the "Separation Wall" and increased checkpoints. 

Israel has faced "micro wars" every few years begun by "indiscriminant shelling and rocket fire" by not only Hamas but by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as well.

In these  Hamas inspired "Micro Wars" the volume of indiscriminant shelling and rocket fire “on the "Gaza Envelope", Israeli towns and cities became more frequent and deadlier, as Chinese and Iranian munitions were smuggled in. 

From the ascension to power of the Jihadist fundamentalist Hamas, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood under Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the true purpose of the Hamas leadership, was the planning, orchestrating and launching terror attacks to "expel and murder Jews". 

In the beginning we were terribly mistakenly mislead by Shiekh Yasmin's acts to improve the lives of the downtrodden lower clases and had once supported him before his true intentions were known to us.

It was Sheikh Yassin who personally gave his approval for the launching of Qassam rockets against Israeli cities, as well as for the numerous Hamas terrorist bombings and suicide operations. 

In his public appearances and interviews, Yassin called repeatedly for a continuation of the 'armed struggle' against Israel, and for an intensification of the terrorist campaign against its citizens.

During the period 2007-2025 military advisers, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began to train and develop plans for a major assault on Israel just as they were doing with the members of Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

These plans based on "Asymmetric Warfare" inspired the network of underground terror tunnels and installations in both Lebanon and Gaza. The plans and preparations that resulted in the infamous butchery and slaughter of October 7th, 2023, were carried out in a secretive and complex manner just as the plans of the Yom Kippur War were made.

During this current "War", Prime Minister Netanyahu has often been accused of supporting the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza". The rationale behind this, was that the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza". who have systematically been abused as "cannon fodder /human shields" in the vain attempt to regain what they "lost" have been told for too long to direct their pain and anger at Israel and NOT towards their overly corrupt leadership. This pain and their loss is due to the fact that they have been brainwashed for way too long with the "False Narrative"

There are way to few in the world who have the moral dignity to see that in the past we Israelis have made numerous efforts for a "Just and Lasting Peace" such as the ill-fated 1995 Oslo Accords to "Win" the  "Hearts and minds" not only of the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" but those of Judaea and Shomron to end this murderous cycle of death and destruction.

We know that when Israel "disengaged" from Gaza in 2005 we left behind substantial infrastructure for a successful future for Gazans. We literally provided the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" several "hot house' complexes with intricate watering systems that produced millions of dollars’ worth of exports and 15% of Israel’s fruit and vegetable production. 

However, upon our "Disengagement" the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" rushed in, in a frenzy of hatred and destroyed it all! 

Their utter frenzy of hatred was so intense that they even ripped out of the ground the entire underground water and sewage system of pipelines we had made and turned over! These same pipes were cut up and made into homemade Qassem rockets to murder Israelis by Hamas!

I have heard Arab voices talk about Gazans needing aspirations, needing to see what other Arabs achieve and live in Peace in order to want that. This, they say, could be a way to deradicalize. Give them hope for the future. 

But this is exactly what many of the fanatical residents adherents of the false narrative and Hamas do not want. 

It could all have been so different, no war, lives lived well, in peaceful collaboration with Israel. 

But that would have meant accepting the truth and Israel’s existence. For these extremists that is never going to happen.

Most of those who support the "Arabs of the Mandated Areas" still cling to the belief and do not accept that they -those who turned down the UNR181 Partition and lost in 1948, to those "Jews /Zionists" whom they see as subservient "Dhimmis". 

For them to accept Israel would mean a loss of "Arab Machismo”, the view that male chauvinism, male dominance and supremacy which is so overwhelmingly pervasive in many Arab societies.

So, it is no surprise that as much as everyone wants the hostage’s home as a priority, leaving Hamas in power means Israel will never have a "true peace". 

Even if the overwhelmingly vile vulgar eruption of Jew hatred, a byproduct of this war and continuation of that age old antisemitism will continue. 

Pressure must be put on other Arab nations to try to bring peace to Gaza by ousting Hamas. 

The Arab states have been muted in their response to Gaza, but now, for a real change to actually happen, they must get involved, if we are ever going to move forward. 

So, can it happen?

Or will something happen among those in the Arab world to cause them to wake up and realize the commercial and financial gain to be made by  intervening  tostop this senseless deadlock. 

We hear talk about those willing to join the “Abrahamic Accords” and that the “heartbreaking” situation with the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" must be finally resolved.

For this to finally happen, the Arab states will have to get their hands dirty. Not military, but realistically and diplomatically.

They need to comprehend that they-specifically those who were the members of the Arab League that participated in the Nachbah and collectively bear responsibility for this sad saga. They above all others need to awaken to the potential of prosperity for all those alongside Israel. 

To do that, they - the Arabs- have to become involved in the resolution of the situation "Gaza". 

So, the real burning question now is, "Which of any of our Arab neighbors be the first in the region step up?". 

• Will we see Trump pressure Qatar?
• Will the UAE have enough influence or Saudi Arabia?

We can only hope that at some point it will serve Arab countries enough to stop ignoring this situation and work to solve it.