The Hamas terror group warned on April 17 that Israel will be held responsible for the consequences unless more medical equipment for dealing with the coronavirus is brought into the Gaza Strip.
The report, from the Times of Israel, is here:
“Israel will be the one that bears responsibility for an outbreak of the virus in the Gaza Strip; and therefore it must make it easier for shipments of aid to arrive and it is the one who needs to send these medical means,” said Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy Hamas leader in Gaza, according to the Ynet news site.
Has Khalil al-Hayya forgotten that the outbreak of the virus in the Gaza Strip had nothing to do with Israel? On March 22, Hamas itself announced that the first cases of the coronavirus in Gaza were those of two Palestinians who had returned, infected, from Pakistan, and that they entered Gaza through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah. They did not set foot in Israel.
As of Saturday, there were 13 confirmed coronavirus cases in the coastal enclave.
A senior Israeli source told Channel 13 last week that Hamas was deeply concerned about a potential spread of the coronavirus in the densely crowded Strip and was interested in a prisoner exchange deal with Israel that would include medical assistance.
Hamas wants – or rather, it demands – medical assistance from Israel. But why does the terror group think Israel “owes” them this assistance? It is the leaders of Hamas who, engaged in colossal corruption, have diverted to their own pockets nearly $8 billion that could have gone to building hospitals, fully equipped to Western standards, with ICU units, ventilators, PPE (masks, gloves, hospital gowns), and to training medical personnel. The people of Gaza need to know that just two of their former Hamas leaders, Khaled Meshaal and Mousa Abu Marzouk, amassed gigantic fortunes, with Meshaal’s estimated to be between $2.5 and $5 billion, and Mousa Abu Marzouk’s believed to be at least $2.5 billion. Other leaders, such as Hamas’ current head Ismail Haniyeh, have managed to accumulate tens of millions of dollars apiece. In Gaza itself, there are 600 Hamas millionaires, living in their lavish villas, indifferent to the poverty of the people whose welfare they claim to care about so much. It is hard to understand why the Israelis do not raise this matter of the theft of so much of the generous aid the Palestinians in Gaza have received. Neither that culture of unending corruption, nor those fantastic fortunes, can be denied.
As for the aid money that has not disappeared into the leaders’ foreign bank accounts and real estate, for years Hamas has chosen to spend money that might have gone to improve the health care of Gazans into expensive rockets and missiles and hundreds of terror tunnels (each of which costs several million dollars to construct). The health care system in Gaza is indeed in a sorry state, but that has nothing to do with Israel. It is the result of the billions lost to corruption, or misspent on war-making, by Hamas.
Gaza, under an Israeli-imposed blockade since 2007, is one of the most densely populated territories on Earth and has a struggling health system. Israel says the blockade is necessary to prevent arms from reaching Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups there.
That comment appears to link the fact of Gaza’s “struggling health system” to the “Israeli-imposed blockade.” It’s a factitious connection. Let’s not forget that Israel has never blocked either medicines or medical equipment from reaching Gaza. The only time some medicines have been temporarily withheld has had nothing to do with Israel. It is the Palestinian Authority, which is in charge of ordering and paying for medicines for Gaza, that sometimes chooses to withhold their delivery in order to express its displeasure with Hamas. In March Israel donated to the Palestinians in Gaza from its own supply thousands of test kits and thousands of PPE (masks, gloves, hospital gowns). It has also delivered medical supplies donated by others, including the recent delivery of 50,000 masks. During a single week in mid-April Israel delivered, from its own stores, 88 tons of medical supplies and equipment to Gaza. Among the world’s countries, Israel is currently the largest donor of medical supplies to Gaza.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on April 15 that he was optimistic about reaching an agreement with Israel and that the terror group was ready for indirect negotiations, adding that the coronavirus crisis had created a “historic junction” to progress on these talks.
“We have four prisoners [two captured soldiers, and two civilians who wandered into Gaza] and we are ready for indirect talks,” Haniyeh said in a television interview with the Gaza-based al-Araby TV network. “I’m optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the occupation in order to complete a prisoner exchange deal and achieve our goals.”
Haniyeh gave a long list of demands that Israel must meet ahead of talks, including the release of all sick prisoners, child prisoners, elderly prisoners, female prisoners and prisoners who were released in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange who were afterwards rearrested on charges of subsequent terror attacks.
Haniyeh seems not to understand the relative strength of the parties; he is attempting to impose a diktat though he is no position to do so. He appears unaware that it is not Israel, but Hamas, that is the supplicant. Israel wants back its two soldiers and two civilians whom Hamas has been holding prisoner, and is prepared to make a swap, but the laundry list of those Hamas wants Israel to free is absurdly long. Israel would find particularly unacceptable the demand that it free, for the second time, prisoners it had freed once before, but who had then gone right back to conducting other terror attacks that led to their re-imprisonment.
Here’s a suggestion as to how the Israelis should take the occasion to answer, publicly, Haniyeh and other critics of Israel’s response to the coronavirus crisis:
“We wish to remind Mr. Haniyeh that the coronavirus outbreak in Gaza for which he blames Israel in fact originated with two Palestinians who returned to Gaza from Pakistan, and who re-entered Gaza through the Egypt-Gaza crossing. This was recognized by Hamas in late March; Mr. Haniyeh appears to have forgotten what his own spokesman admitted at the time.
“In addition, Mr. Haniyeh implies that Israel is responsible for the parlous state of the health system in Gaza. It is not Israel’s fault. Khaled Meshaal, a former Hamas leader, has helped himself to between $2.5 and $5 billion dollars from the aid given to the Palestinians. Mousa Abu Marzouk, another former leader, had amassed at least $2.5 billion dollars from that aid. These figures come from Arab sources. Mr. Haniyeh himself has a net worth of tens of millions of dollars; 600 lower-level Hamas apparatchiks have at least one million dollars apiece. Had those billions of dollars gone instead to the health care system in Gaza, the situation in its hospitals today would be very different.
“Nor should Mr. Haniyeh forget that the expensive rockets and missiles and other weaponry Hamas has purchased, and the costly terror tunnels it has built, used monies that could instead have paid for new hospitals, more ICU units in existing hospitals, ventilators, PPE, and other medical equipment that Gaza now sorely lacks. That money could also have paid for training Palestinian medical personnel. It was Hamas’s choice to spend the aid money as it did.
“Let’s not forget the medicines and medical equipment that Israel delivers to Gaza, both from its own stores, and from international organizations as well. Hundreds of tons of medical supplies have been delivered to Gaza in the past month alone. No Arab state has sent as many medical supplies to Gaza as has Israel. Does Mr. Haniyeh dispute that?
“Now, about that release of prisoners he demands that we accept.….”
mortimer says
Hugh Fitzgerald writes: “…why does the terror group think Israel “owes” them this assistance?”
This petulance (from Hamas) is based on the presumption that the Dhimmi Contract (Pact of Omar) is operative in Israel … that all non-Muslims have a duty of subservience to their Muslim overlords. This is a delusion or at best, wishful thinking … an example of fake-it-till-you-make-it.
Hamas hopes that the Israelis will get used to the constant tone of surly contempt and hostility (which is prescribed in Sharia law as ‘Al Walaa wal Baraa’ (‘comradeship’ between Muslims and ‘cleansing’ from non-Muslim kafirs).
It’s hard to know to what extent that the ‘Pallies’ indulged in SUPER-SPREADING behaviors, but Israel has one of the HIGHEST RATES of infection of all countries. This is no doubt due in part to the rebellious, conspiratorial mindset of the ‘Pallies’.
Normative Islamic teaching is the source of such hostility and petulance expressed towards kafirs.
-Imam Abdul-Latif ibn Abdur-Rahman Rahimullah said, “It is not possible for someone to realize Tawheed (Islamic faith) and act upon it, and yet not be HOSTILE against the mushrikeen (i.e. wrong worshippers). So anyone who isn’t HOSTILE against the mushrikeen, then it cannot be said that he acts upon Tawheed nor that he realizes it.” [ad-Durar as-Saniyyah 8/167]
Emilie Green says
“the constant tone of surly contempt and hostility”
Ain’t that the case!
Trish says
Well I’ve always known that they believe in abusing infidels but I can’t get over all those fat cats who took billions of dollars while they’re own people die. Sounds like the elite are the same everywhere!
mortimer says
Quote: “Israel will be the one that bears responsibility for an outbreak of the virus in the Gaza Strip …” said Khalil al-Hayya.
Response: This is emotional blackmail in advance. Whatever the outcome, Hamas will pull a rabbit out of the hat of hatred. Don’t the ‘Pallies’ have a responsibility to prepare medically for their own people? Are Hamas irresponsible children? The ‘Pallies’ are blame-switching and distracting from their own failure to prepare for disasters. They have used the cornucopia of foreign aid monies to enrich the ‘Pally’ leaders, build monster homes in Cyprus for each of them and to buy weapons and explosives, rather than building hospitals and training doctors and nurses.
Unknown guy says
Israel made the mistake by agreeing to the oslo accords
DBM echo says
But, but, so many, many Muslim imans told us that Muslims don’t get COv-19, that it attacks only the kaffir. So I believe them. Therefore this clowns in Gaza are lying. They don’t need medical help.
Judy Allison Baker says
Give me a break! That is ignorant! Persons of every race, creed, political belief and religion can be infected with this Chinese influenced virus! It is presently killing Muslims in several countries.
Veron Holness says
Surely the Imans cannot be wrong!
Covid-19 was sent down by Allah, to strike down the infidels.
The righteous believers in the word of Mohammed, had nothing to fear.
Remember Allah protects.
P.S. to make doubly sure of protection, a muslim doctor advises drinking some camels piss.
Isn’t it great to be able to witness 7th century medicine in action!
DP111 says
Judy
DBM’s comment is so obviously sarc, that I didnt think the /sarc was necessary.
gravenimage says
Judy, DBM echo is being sarcastic. This is indeed what many Muslims say.
Barbara says
Short and brief question–when did they discontinue Boycotts of everything Israeli?
Lenny Leaps In says
Gaza receives billions of $$ of aid each year. Why didn’t they save their pennies? Too busy buying bombs from Iran and giving salaries to families who have had ‘martyred’ children …
Rarely says
It is greatly to Israel’s credit that it acts humanely even in the face of such horrendous rhetoric. In fact Israel treats the people of Gaza better (much better in fact) than their own leadership.
One cannot expect that rhetoric to change regardless of events. Nor can we expect Israel to backtrack from its humane position. Such is the way of the Middle East.
James Lincoln says
I have a recommendation for Israel:
Apparently hamas demands that Israel supply more medical equipment and support.
Israel should make this contingent upon:
1. hamas paying for all medical equipment and support from Israel.
2. hamas stating publicly that Israel and its Jewish population has a right to exist.
3. All terrorist attacks by hamas against Israel will permanently cease.
These are reasonable requirements and should be made public. If hamas fails to comply, no medical equipment or support should be provided.
Tom says
A simple two word answer is all that is needed. The first word begins with F and the second with O.
No matter how much medical supplies are given to Gaza by the Israeli’s it will never be enough and Hamas will use that as an excuse to escalate their terror activities agains Israel.
don vito says
Shame on you, hamas. Imitating kufr. allah won’t be happy!
Abbe Mullin says
God said I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee speaking of Israel to Abraham. Do these “sons of Abraham” read the Torah after all “we worship the same God” so I have heard.
don vito says
I’ve heard that too, but it was from some guy with camel urine breath. PeeU.
tim gallagher says
Well, it’s pretty weird for these Muslims, all of whom want Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth, to demand that Israel help them out. It is beyond bizarre, but that’s the way Islam and the insane Muslim mind works (or, rather, doesn’t work at all). Yeah, let’s help out these maggots who want to kill all of us, many Israelis must surely be thinking. I like Tom’s comment up above. Just tell them to go fuck themselves, these would be terminators of Israel. But, as Rarely says, up above, Israel does act humanely and in a civilised manner towards these people who want to wipe them out and I suppose will continue to do so. The decent behaviour is all one way.
ntesdorf says
Given the Choice, Israel should supply Hamas with a dose of ‘Or Else”.
gravenimage says
Hamas Demands That Israel Supply More Medical Equipment, Or Else
………………………
Ungrateful thugs.