PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel over the weekend is sending shockwaves through our region.
At least 900 Israelis, mostly civilians, were brutally killed in the siege. Israel has declared war on Hamas and killed nearly 700 in retaliation, pledging further destruction in Gaza. At least 11 American citizens were among those killed, many of whom made a second home in Israel, President Joe Biden said Monday.
“We know hate when we see it, and Hamas is a hate group,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. He adds the attacks, which came during a Jewish holiday, should be seen as an act of anti-semitism.
“This is not conventional war. This is not a standard conflict. It is something far more base and far more primitive and just disgraceful.”
The attacks come amid a decades-long dispute over control of land that both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their own. AP says they haven’t seen a death toll this high since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria.
Supporters of Hamas say the group’s actions need to be seen in the context of unending oppressive occupation and degradation.
Ribhi Mustafa is a West Philadelphia business leader and American of Palestinian descent whose mother and father live in the occupied West Bank.
He says his parents are in a small town between Ramallah and Jerusalem where the roads are closed and settlers are running rampant in the streets.
“In the West Bank, if you are a Palestinian, you have a different color license plate, which is blue. Israelis on the West Bank have a yellow license plate,” Mustafa explained. “So if my father needed to leave the village to go shopping, he would be identified as a Palestinian just by the color of his license plate and be attacked by Israeli settlers."
He compares Palestinians to Ukrainians and wants the international community led by the U.S. to intervene to ensure peace and freedom for all.
"The world came together, rightfully so, to stand up for Ukraine against Russian occupation,” Mustafa said. “Why is Palestine still occupied after 75 years? It's 2023, information is out there, people see what is going on. How can an entire people continue to be forced to live under a brutal Israeli occupation and remain silent?"
Philly stands with Israel
A “Philly Stands with Israel” rally was held in Wynnewood Monday night. Hundreds gathered at the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center in solidarity with friends and family members in Israel.
The rally was led with prayer, and Michael Balaban, president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, held back tears while describing the overwhelming sadness that haunted the crowd.
“This is horrific. This is a situation we’ve never seen before,” he said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, accompanied by several state officials, said the commonwealth stands with Israel and against terror.
“This is a moment, not to retreat from who we are, but to embrace who we are.”
Jude Husein, community activist, founder of Philadelphia Palestine, Philadelphia Solidarity Day, and government professional, says every life lost is a tragedy, but context and history are important.
“For 75 years, Palestinians have been calling for freedom,” Husein said. “This is not a religious issue, this is a human rights issue that affects all people across the globe.”
“We must hear people’s cries and we must eliminate the violence and give every single person their human right and dignity.”
Andrew Schwartz was at the rally and says he wants peace but fears more violence.
“A war means it’s going to be tough on a lot of people, both Palestinians and Israelis.”
Hamas is currently holding more of what’s thought to be dozens of Israeli hostages and has pledged to kill one of them each time Israel targets civilians in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli leaders vow to destroy Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and cut off electricity, fuel and food to Gaza to do so.
Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Mustafa's first name. The current version reflects that change.