Some historical context here. Hamas was created in 1987 by three men who as boys survived the 1956 rounding up and killing of Palestinian males between 15 years of age and up in Gaza by the Israeli occupying forces. Originally the Israeli government supported Hamas’ existence seeing it as a more moderate alternative to the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). There is a reason organizations such as the PLO and Hamas are created. They don’t just drop out of the sky. They are responses to events. Between 1947-87, over 50,000 civilians were killed by Israeli occupation forces (Feroz Khalil). The organizations are a response to prevent their extinction.

But it started before that. It goes back to the Balfour Declaration of 1917 when England, then in control of Palestine, found a way to rid itself of its European Jewish population by saying they could settle in Palestine. Since then, the singular goal of all the leaders of the created state of Israel (UN proclamation of 1947), has been to eliminate the existence of the over 12 million Palestinians (Muslims and

Christians) who were living there. The current bombardment of Gaza is not, nor has it ever been about Hamas. It’s about creating the “Final solution” mimicking Hitler, only this time it’s not the “Jewish Problem” but the “Palestinian Problem.” The abused have become the abusers. A double crime against humanity which is being perpetuated with military and political support of the U.S. government. Shame on us.

Sue McKevitt

Bradford