A Muslim American's Perspective on the War in Gaza

It is almost impossible for a newcomer to publish an opinion piece in the New York Times or Washington Post. There's a Catch-22 at work: If you have published in these papers before, your chances are higher of getting published again. But because you can rarely get published, there is hardly any chance that your piece will be published. In other words, success breeds success but because there is no chance of success, there will be no success to follow either for newcomers.

The Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza threw the world into turmoil. It began when Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel, killing 1200 Israelis and taking about 240 hostages. In response, Israel went a on destruction spree that so far has claimed the lives of over 20,000 Gazans, a majority of them children and women.

The war continues, with an alarming increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia. Americans have strong opinions about the war. As a Muslim American, I too have a strong opinion on this volatile and deeply divisive war. Since getting published in New York Times or Washington Post was not a possibility (not for lack of trying), I expressed my viewpoint in the comments section of the essays and opinion pieces penned by well-known columnists.

What follows are the links to the articles of famous columnists and the dates they were published. Each piece was accompanied by hundreds of entries in the comments section. I only quoted my comments to give you, the reader, an idea of the perspective of a Muslim American, tempered by a yearning for peace and justice.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/09/gaza-war-israel-palestinians-recognition/

The lesson from the Hamas attack: The U.S. should recognize a Palestinian state

By Daoud Kuttab

October 9, 2023

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Comments

HasanZR

There is only one action that can defuse the current catastrophic situation in the Middle East that threatens to engulf the world: For Hamas to unconditionally free the hostages to Israel. Can Hamas take this moral high ground? Unlikely but in the rapidly descending darkness, one has to cling to a ray of hope, however faint. Slaughtering innocents can never be justified. Besides, how has Hamas improved the lot of the average Palestinian? Not at all. Hamas has made their lives worse, just as the Israeli government has with its casual cruelty. May the warring factions see the light and end this catastrophe for the sake of humanity. But no progress can be made unless Hamas frees the hostages unconditionally.

DVGBest12
Can Hamas take this moral high ground?

Is that a joke? Hamas just slaughtered hundreds of babies, women and children.

 

Tahitigirl

2 hours ago

And Israel has displaced and treated the Palestinians horribly.

 

debatingunion

2 hours ago

The IDF regularly slaughters higher numbers of innocent Palestinian civilians. Then there are the illegal settlers in the occupied territories doing their bit as well.

 

jimhope

2 hours ago

They only go after Palestinians when attacked...

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/opinion/israel-military-war.html

I’m Going to War for Israel. Palestinians Are Not My Enemy.

Oct. 13, 2023

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

By Nir Avishai Cohen

Mr. Cohen, a major in the reserves of the Israel Defense Forces, is the author of the book “Love Israel, Support Palestine.”

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Comment

Hasan Z Rahim, San Jose, CA

Words of wisdom, courage and honesty are rare when one talks or writes about the Israeli-Palestinian issue but Nir Avishai Cohen has done just that. The far-right extremists are ideological brothers: Hamas and Netanyahu's government are two sides of the same coin. The victims are the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Palestinians who want to live in peace. May the sentiments expressed by Nir Cohen take root in the hearts of all who want peace by defeating the extremists on both sides. One thing remains universally true: Killing innocent people can and must never be justified or condoned.
26 Recommend

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/opinion/israel-gaza-war.html

Israel Can Defend Itself and Uphold Its Values

Oct. 14, 2023

By The Editorial Board of NY Times

Comments

Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose 4h ago

Hamas couldn't care less about the fate of ordinary Palestinians, whether they live or die. But neither can Israel overlook the critical importance of not killing civilians in Gaza who wish for nothing more basic than to live in peace. Israelis and Palestinians who want to coexist in peace are caught between two extreme ideologies espoused by a minority on both sides. That is the true tragedy of the Middle East. The one act that can defuse the situation is for Hamas to unconditionally release all the hostages. That single act of taking the moral high ground can help the cause of peace. Can Hamas do it? Based on its past, sadly, no. We are left hoping for a miracle!

100 Recommend

 

5 REPLIES

David H commented 52 minutes ago

David H

Santa Cruz, CA 52m ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Why don't freedom-loving Palestinian men take up arms against Hamas? Where is the revolution? I do not support the state of Israel, actually, but Palestinian society seems to be even less democratic and extremist than Israeli society. Honestly, I would like to learn more about armed movements in Gaza that are seeking to eradicate Hamas if there are any. My mind is not resolved on this concern about civilian indifference or support for Hamas.

14 Recommend

Liam

NYC 20m ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Agreed. And not only Hamas is not interested in saving Palestinians, they in fact, as they openly stated, look forward to the Israeli invasion, as yet another chance to fight and kill.

Andy

Brooklyn 2h ago

By your logic, the Allies would have been justified in indiscriminately bombing civilians in Nazi Germany, and Al Qaeda was justified in targeting American civilians.

2 Recommend

Steve commented 2 hours ago

Steve

US 2h ago

@David H You don't think Palestinians have enough problems without also a civil war among themselves?

1 Recommend

JB

NY 2h ago

@Andy We did engage in terror bombing in WW2 though. LeMay and Bomber Harris were quite proud of it, after the fact. LeMay was even quoted as saying that they'd be war criminals, if they hadn't won the war.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/19/hamas-winning-political-goals/

Is Hamas winning the war?

By Yuval Noah Harari

October 19, 2023

Yuval Noah Harari is the author of “Sapiens,” “Homo Deus” and “Unstoppable Us” and a professor of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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Commentary by HasanZR:
This is a brilliant commentary on the current war between Hamas and Israel. President Biden was right in urging caution to the Israeli leadership based on our experience after 9/11. Revenge is a tempting response but it is important to remember that it takes more courage to wage peace than war. Hamas has been using Palestinians as pawns in their maniacal pursuit of power and savagery. If Hamas is to transform itself, the least it can do is unconditionally release the hostages. This is more aspiration than reality but history is full of surprises. One clarification for the author Yuval Noah Harari: "Tufan" does not mean flood. The word "Tufan" means a raging storm.

 

7 Thumbs up

 

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/20/israel-gazans-hamas-war-rebuilding/

Listen to the Gazans who are seeking a path away from Hamas

By David Ignatius, October 20, 2023

HasanZR Comment
18 minutes ago

The tragedy in the Middle East is that extremists on both sides - the government of Netanyahu and Hamas - don't want peace. Peace would steal their thunder if ordinary Israelis and Palestinians agreed to coexist in peace and justice. Feeling against Hamas is strong in Gaza but these oppressed Gazans are fearful of their lives if they dare to oppose Hamas. Yet many have taken the risk to protest Hamas dictators in the hope that they can aspire to a life of decency and dignity. Israel can help by taking the moral high ground - difficult given the Oct 7 massacre by Hamas - but it can break the never-ending cycle of war and violence. Hamas can take the moral high ground by releasing all hostages unconditionally. For the sake of humanity, let's hope and pray that a radical peace breaks out in the Middle East soon before the world is engulfed by the flames of war.

thumb_up 2 reply

 

Gigantor

17 minutes ago

"Hamas can take the moral high ground by releasing all hostages unconditionally." Hamas needs to die. After Oct 7, the idea that Hamas can obtain a 'moral high ground' is a ship that has sailed.

Most people are arguing about how best to kill Hamas, without endangering Gazan civilian lives.

 

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/22/opinion/hamas-israel-jews-massacre.html

 

Why Jews Cannot Stop Shaking Right Now

Oct. 22, 2023

By Dara Horn

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Comments
Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose 2h ago

As a Muslim-American, I see your sorrow, I feel your fear. I will never understand what prevents many Muslims from condemning the Hamas massacre that claimed over 1400 innocent lives. A single innocent life extinguished before its time due to savagery is a life too many. But can the response also be justified, with Israel poised for a ground attack, after relentless bombing that has already taken over 3000 Gazan lives? It is wrong to conflate Hamas with Palestinians. Most Palestinians, like most Israelis, want to coexist with Israelis in peace with a homeland of their own. The extremists on both sides, however, don't want peace. They want the war to continue so they can continue with their extremist ideologies, loss in life be damned. Unless the extremists on both sides are defeated by their respective people, this terrible tragedy will continue to take its toll in human lives. We are now reduced to hoping for a miracle that will dispel this darkness with light. May we see this miracle happen in our lifetime.

133 Recommend

3 REPLIES

Tal Barzilai commented 40 minutes ago

Tal Barzilai

Pleasantville, NY 40m ago

@Hasan Z Rahim If more Muslims come out to condemn Hamas and other Islamic terrorists, I will be very proud of that. However, that is hardly the case. If you really want to claim that groups such as Hamas don't represent group as a whole, then start calling them out rather than acting silent or even rushing to their defense. Just to let you know, there are many Jews and Christians that are calling out extremists, but I hardly ever hear that for Muslims. I have been to a lot of protests against terrorists especially the ones that attack Israel, and I have never seen any Muslims being there with us. What would really be nice is seeing some Muslim groups marching in the Salute to Israel Parade, but knowing their nature, it will never happen. More importantly, whenever I see Muslims doing protests on this conflict, most of them aren't even advocating for peace, but rather more terrorist attacks especially when you see words such as intifada and jihad in there. As for claiming that the Jews don't want peace, that is completely false, because there were several attempts that Israel made to help create a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians kept turning it down even if they were getting most of what they wanted. Overall, I don't hate Muslims as a whole, just those who do terrorist attacks.

3 Recommend

JD Athey commented 38 minutes ago

JD Athey

Oregon38m ago

@Hasan Z Rahim 'May we see this miracle happen in our lifetime'. Amend that: '...in the next few days'. No more innocents should be harmed.

Jonathan commented 38 minutes ago

Jonathan

Hopewell NJ 38m ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Mr. Rahim, we are now fifteen days after the Hamas's terrorist attack and yours is absolutely the first Muslim comment I have seen condemning the Hamas, without a "yes, but" or other bothesidesism. You and I may not ultimately agree on what the path to peace looks like or will lead to, but I do thank you for your comment.

45 Recommend

Hasan Z Rahim

@Jonathan Since the Oct 7 massacre of innocent Jews by Hamas, I have, as a Muslim-American, condemned this terrorist attack in numerous comment sections of opinion pieces in NY Times and Washington Post. I wrote that I unequivocally and unconditionally condemn the killing of innocents by Hamas. I want to assure you that among Muslim-Americans, many have privately condemned Hamas for the crime it committed on Oct 7. I have also said that if Hamas is capable of taking the moral high ground, it must unconditionally release all the hostages. Believe it or not, there are many Muslim-Americans who feel the way I do. Unfortunately, some of them are too timid to make their voices known. I am not. Unless we speak up collectively, calling the perpetrators are out no matter which side they may belong to, this vicious cycle of hate and violence will continue. May we all have the courage to speak the truth, no matter how 'inconvenient' it may be.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/03/israel-hamas-terrorism-war-response-history/

Israeli leaders shouldn’t neglect the history of fights against terrorism

 

By Fareed Zakaria November 3, 2023
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Comment by HasanZR (11/3/23 – thumb up 13)

For enduring peace in the Middle East, a Two-State solution offers the only ray of hope. Everything else will lead to one bloody conflict or another. I am heartened by the demonstrations in the U.S. by Jewish groups like "Jewish Voice for Peace" (JVP - https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/) and IfNotNow ((https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/) for a cease-fire in Gaza. I would have been equally heartened if Palestinian-Americans in the U.S. also held demonstrations against Hamas for its unimaginable carnage on October 7 and for the sanctity of Jewish lives. As a Muslim-American, I unequivocally and unconditionally condemn the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7. One innocent life lost to terror is one life too many. I also condemn the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza by Israel. What did the children of Gaza do to deserve death and destruction raining down on them? May a Two-State solution become a reality in our lifetime where Israelis and Palestinians, freed from the clutches of their respective nihilistic right-wingers and led by enlightened and peace-loving leaders, can live side by side in peace.

Response to my comment:
MikeOMike
And Hamas is sworn to both the destruction of Israel and the Jews (and the US) so in order for there to be a two state solution, there cannot be a Hamas.

thumb_up 4

Mel Goldstein

I agree. Time and time again Hamas has acted the provocateur, putting the Gazans up as targets for an overwhelming and disproportionate Israeli response that has weakened Israel’s position internationally. Yes, I would have wanted anti-Hamas protests by Pro-Palestinian groups as well. As a first step, I would hope that the Netanyahu government is thrown out due to Israeli disgust with his murderous tactics and a move is made to first protect Palestinians from the Settlers on the West Bank and then to throw the Settlers out as had been done in Gaza previously. I am at a complete loss on how do end the Gazan war. It is clear that the Hamas dictatorship must go, but it is unlikely Gazans can ever rise up to throw them out.

thumb_up 2

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/08/gaza-cease-fire-israel-negotiation-hamas/

A cease-fire in Gaza isn’t a fantasy. Here’s how it could work.

 By Shadi Hamid, November 8, 2023

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Comments:

HasanZR
"The United States must use its leverage to bring Israel to the table." Much easier said than done! Israel has defied the U.S. countless times in the past, although U.S. have never wavered in its commitment to Israel. One thing that must happen immediately for peace to have a chance is for Hamas to unconditionally release the hostages it is now holding in undoubtedly abominable conditions. If Hamas does that, a cease-fire can follow. Yes, it is true that bold actions often initially come across as fantasy but the need for bold and imaginative action is now. Both Hamas and Israel are single-minded about their respective agendas but unless there is some flexibility, the war will continue to take its horrendous toll on the children and civilians of Gaza and, unfortunately, also in the West Bank. But first, Hamas must unconditionally release the hostages.

(Response to my comment)

Virgil Caine:
Why should Israel go to a table with Hamas?

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/18/joe-biden-gaza-hamas-putin/

The U.S. won’t back down from the challenge of Putin and Hamas

By Joe Biden, November 18, 2023

Comments

HasanZR

President Biden has the best of intentions, no doubt, but unfortunately, there is an asymmetry in his thinking and plan that undermines his intentions. The president doesn't have any significant sway over Netanyahu whose vision does NOT include a Two-State solution. Netanyahu is against any move that gives Palestinians a state of their own. If Biden can compel Netanyahu and his fellow ideologues in Israel to accept a Two-State solution, then and only then can Biden fulfill the noble sentiments expressed in his opinion piece. Since Netanyahu will not depart from his stated goal of never allowing Palestinians a state of their own, and will do anything and everything to sabotage such an effort, he must go. Just as Hamas, too, must go.

Like: 4

Response to my comment:

Scene It B4

Well written, but Biden is only going to do what the Israeli lobbyist dictate

Labech2
AHHH, NO. Biden is already advocating for things Netanyahu never wanted. READ.

Scene It B4
That’s standard PR which the admin must deliver to the masses. You, No capitalization needed, only critical thinking.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/22/opinion/israel-palestinians-arabs.html
The Rescuers

By Thomas L. Friedman, Nov. 22, 2023
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Comment

Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose, 11/22/23

On the eve of Thanksgiving Day (11/23/23), I give thanks for the hope and grace that Mr. Friedman articulated for Jews and Arabs living in Israel. There are extremists on both sides but the sheer humanity of Jews and Arabs who are not transcends the hatemongers. As a Muslim American, I continue to pray for the unconditional release of the hostages, and I will continue to hope that peace will come to the Middle East where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side as friends, neighbors, and most importantly, as goodwill ambassadors.

40 Recommend

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/25/opinion/israel-gaza-peace-ceasefire.html

The Only Way Forward

Nov. 25, 2023

By The Editorial Board of NY Times
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Comment

Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose, CA

Hamas must be defeated, as must Netanyahu and his right-wing government, for peace to have any chance. Israelis can bring down Netanyahu because they can vote. Can ordinary Palestinians bring down Hamas? Unlikely, because any Palestinian who stands against Hamas often "disappears" permanently. Still, that is the risk ordinary Palestinians must take even at the risk of making the supreme sacrifice. Ordinary Israelis and Palestinians yearn for peace. The whole world yearns for peace in the Middle East. For a Muslim American who falls on the high end of the baby boomer scale, may we get to see this peace in our lifetime.

7 Recommend 1 Reply

Phil Korb

Philadelphia, PA 2h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Yes indeed. If there were an election before October 7, Netanyahu would have lost in a landslide. Were it held today, he, along with his right wing and settler extremists, would lose 90-10. And Hamas must be destroyed. And the two state solution, must be revived and the settlers stopped. But getting from here to there will be tortuous.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/opinion/biden-trump.html

An Electorate in Revolt Threatens Biden’s Chances

Nov. 29, 2023

By Charles M. Blow

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Comments

Hasan Z Rahim 11/29/23

San Jose 4h ago

I am a Muslim American and will vote for Biden in 2024 if he is running, which seems most likely at this point. However, in talking with Muslims in my community and across the country, I have heard from many Biden voters who have vowed not to vote for Biden in 2024 because of his supposed unconditional embrace of Israel at the expense of Palestinians. Even if that is true, and to some extent it is, I remind my fellow Muslim Americans that not voting for Biden is equivalent to voting for Trump. "We don't care," they say. "You don't care that a vindictive and incompetent narcissist can destroy democracy in America, as he has threatened to do if elected?" I feel a huge sense of sadness at this turn of events. I don't know what fraction of Americans will judge by Biden by his performance and judgment in the Israel-Hamas war. But if voters desert Biden in 2024 and somehow Trump comes through, it will be the greatest tragedy for America. The risk is real. I find myself fervently praying that Biden will significantly improve his messaging and work toward a Two-State solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace.

647 Recommend

21 REPLIES

Julie Salwen commented November 29

Julie Salwen

NJ Nov. 29

@Hasan Z Rahim Biden cannot control the Israeli response to the Oct. 7th events and I am sure that he is more supportive of Israel than those in the Muslim community who have vowed not to vote for him. However, it is important to see that he has been working hard behind the scenes to create the current pause in the bombing and to bring in humanitarian aid. He is also pressuring Israel to stop the civilian death toll. If he had not shown support for Israel, he would not have been able to have any influence on Israel's response. In fact, Biden has also been working hard for a two state solution. Do people prefer the Republican view in the House, supporting arms for Israel, but no humanitarian aid for Gaza? Or Trump who is too inconsistent to work towards any peace objective?

71 Recommend

Nikki commented 5 hours ago

Nikki

Islandia 5h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim And if I’m not mistaken, Trump was even more staunchly in support of Israel. Remember Jared playing Middle-east peacemaker? Can anyone really think Trump would take the side of the Palestinians, who have nothing financial to offer him and his family?

23 Recommend

dcbcn commented 5 hours ago

dcbcn

Washington, DC 5h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim There’s another solution, which is that the Democratic Party can decide that winning is imperative and field a candidate that voters want. If Trump wins because the Dems insisted on fielding a candidate that voters said they didn't want, that's the party's fault. The Republicans are at least smart enough to run the maniac that their voters desire.

2 Recommend

Nick commented 5 hours ago

Nick

Brooklyn 5h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim This false logic is how most evil dictators end up in power. Not voting for Biden is absolutely not the same as voting for Trump, there are more than two ways to vote. We're sick and tired off being told our only choices are one genocider or another possibly worse genocider. Biden has crossed the line such that "long shot third party with a cleaner conscience" has surpassed "realistic slightly lesser evil" as the most moral choice.

2 Recommend

Mark commented 5 hours ago

Mark

Studio City, CA 5h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim As a response to your Muslim friends who "don't care" that not voting for Biden will result in Trump being elected, I refer you to the following quote from Orion Clemens comment above as to what is likely to happen if Trump is elected: "Then [Trump"] will broaden his target base by having "his military" target folks who are not white, Christian and/or straight. His own militias terrorize us, but he has instructed DOJ not to prosecute any of "his people." Internment camps are set up, first for non-citizens but later expanded to include citizens." You may recall that one of Trump's first actions during his first term was to attempt to impose a "Muslim ban." One of Trump's current most trusted advisors is Steven Miller, who had no problem incarcerating immigrant children who had done nothing wrong in cages. Even if they "don't care" about the end of democracy in America, I'd recommend that your acquaintances vote for Biden simply to avoid the very real possibility that, in a second Trump administration, these people who find Biden's rhetoric (as opposed to his actions, which have benefitted the people in Gaza) to be offensive, will discover that being shipped off to an internment camp is even more offensive.

9 Recommend

Blue In Texas. commented 4 hours ago

Blue In Texas.

Austin 4h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim You are correct and you are doing the right thing by keeping your colleagues informed about the consequences of an authoritarian regime here in America

7 Recommend

David commented 4 hours ago

David

MD 4h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim "I find myself fervently praying that Biden will significantly improve his messaging and work toward a Two-State solution" Biden is for a two state solution. What he knows is that it cannot be with Hamas. Do your Palestinian friends believe Hamas is for a two state solution and peace?

4 Recommend

MG commented 3 hours ago

MG

NY, NY 3h ago

@Nick . You can certainly vote for someone else, however the consequences are real.

1 Recommend

Smilodon7 commented 3 hours ago

Smilodon7

Gilead, State Formerly Known As Missouri3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim What do they think Trump will do? He is more likely than Biden to support whatever Netanyahu wants. Oh and American Muslims will the first to be rounded up FYI. Save me a seat, will you? Democratic socialist atheists will be second on the list.

7 Recommend

Carol commented 3 hours ago

Carol

Santa Fe, NM 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim It probably depends a lot on what happens in Israel/Palestine during the coming year. There was a time when voters were telling pollsters they would never vote for Biden because of the botched US withdrawal from Afghanistan. But now that is almost forgotten. In terms of news cycles, November 2024 is still a long way off.

1 Recommend

Mitch Krulewich commented 3 hours ago

Mitch Krulewich

Honolulu, HI 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim, What do those who will not support Biden because of his support for Israel think Trump would do if elected? He would be even more aligned with Netanyahu and more Islamophobic!

5 Recommend

Anna commented 3 hours ago

Anna

Chicago 3h ago

Biden is gleefully enabling the Israeli response, and this is the last straw that tanks his reelection. I wish it wasn’t true.

Recommend

Linda Sam commented 3 hours ago

Linda Sam

NYC 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim It is not about messaging. People vote their pocketbooks.

Recommend

Jim commented 3 hours ago

Jim

Pennsylvania 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim A classic example of "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

3 Recommend

Marty M commented 3 hours ago

Marty M

Dallas, TX 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim You might remind your Muslim friends and colleagues about Trump's "Muslim ban" that he instituted just days into his presidency, and his clear threat to do the same (as well as deportations), should he be elected in 2024. Facts matter.

1 Recommend

Just-in-Time Widget commented 3 hours ago

Just-in-Time Widget

Virginia 3h ago

@Hasan, “If you spill a drop of American blood, we will spill a gallon of yours," is what Trump told the Republican Jewish Coalition last month. I'd take him at his word. Even if Trump doesn't put U.S. boots on the ground, I don't see him curtailing military aid to Israel whatsoever. The hard liners chomping at the bit for the cease fire to end will have no better friend.

Recommend

Michelle commented 3 hours ago

Michelle

New York 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim As a Jewish American I just want to say that I appreciate the thoughtful and practical nature of your comment. Your even-handed attitude is exemplary.

3 Recommend

Frequent Flyer commented 3 hours ago

Frequent Flyer

Pasadena 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim "Not voting for Biden is equivalent to voting for Trump." You are a very wise person, and I hope everyone -- be they Muslim, Gen Z, Black, Latino/a/x, or any ethnic, racial, or demographic group -- comes to understand this.

3 Recommend

dlb commented 3 hours ago

dlb

Washington, DC 3h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim It’s not that Trump is bad for democracy, and he certainly is, but Trump is no friend of Palestinians, he is very much on Bibi's side, so it's perplexing why Muslims would support him in any way.

1 Recommend

PH commented 2 hours ago

PH

MD 2h ago

@Julie Salwen But it’s a lie Biden has been working behind the scenes. The US funds Israel and has the largest military in history. If we wanted to bombings to stop, they’d stop.

Recommend

JR commented 1 hour ago

JR

Bronxville 1h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Thank you for your thoughtful and affirming comment.

2 Recommend

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/01/opinion/israel-gaza-ceasefire.html

This Is the 9/11 Lesson That Israel Needs to Learn

Dec. 1, 2023

By Thomas L. Friedman

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Comments

Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose 2h ago

Mr. Friedman, you propose excellent ideas but with a dose of the aspirational. It is amazing how we never learn from history, history that is not even ancient but relatively modern! Filled with justifiable anger and a fierce hunger for justice, the U.S, went after its perceived enemies after 9/11 with a ferocity rarely seen in decades past. So what happened? Trillions of dollars lost and hundreds of thousands of lives lost on all sides. Yes, Bin Laden got his justice. Al-Qaida and ISIS became essentially non-players. But history will probably consider this a pyrrhic victory considering the cost. Why is it that countries do not learn from history? I think it is the factor of hubris, that might will make right. I hope Friedman's advice is taken to heart by Israelis after they boot Netanyahu from office. If that happens, Hamas will suffer the kind of defeat that Al-Qaida and ISIS suffered, and Palestinians can chart a prosperous path for themselves in a Two-State solution where they and Israelis coexist in peace. May at least baby-boomers like me see that happen on our lifetime!

46 Recommend

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/06/hamas-genocide-against-israel/

Two months later, Hamas’s Oct. 7 horror cannot be allowed to fade

By Qanta A. Ahmed, December 6, 2023

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Comments

HasanZR

I am a Muslim American who unconditionally condemned the carnage by Hamas on Oct 7 immediately after it occurred. And I stand by my condemnation. Hamas does not represent Palestinians. They control ordinary Palestinians through fear and tyranny and use them as shields while many of their leaders live in luxury abroad. I was hoping and praying that Israel's response will not lead to mass killings in Gaza, but with more than 15,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, now dead, it tragically has. Revenge begets revenge and the carnage and the genocide continues. As a baby boomer, I hope and pray that in my lifetime I will witness a Two-State solution to the horrifying tragedy in the Middle East where the majority of Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace and extremists from both sides are confined to the trash bin of history.

thumb_up 13

Slap_N_Tickle

3 hours ago

Revenge begets revenge and the carnage and the genocide continues.

One person's "genocide" is another person's "collateral damage".

thumb_up 1

big love

3 hours ago

No, genocide has an actual definition that is not a lot of people being killed in a war. For a working definition of genocide, please consult the Hamas charter.

thumb_up 6

 

One World Under No God

3 hours ago

The Israeli idea of a "two state" solution is Palestinians getting a few reservations which are under the control of the IDF. This isn't a state - it's 1840s America.

thumb_up 4

 

Stephen Michael Stirling

2 hours ago

In the 1930's, the British offered a partition of the Mandate that would have given the Arabs 80% and the Jews a little postage stamp around Tel Aviv.

 

The Jews accepted it. The Palestinians rejected it and attacked every Jew they could.

 

There's a pattern here.

 

If you reject a compromise -- as the Palestinians did again in 1947 -- and chose war, the consequences are on you... and your descendants.

 

In war, victor takes and loser pays.

Thumb up 3

 

Punxutawney Phil

2 hours ago

The British offered.... So nice of them.

Ripples In Still Water

So go after the British, if you feel that way. Stop going after the Jews.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/06/van-hollen-israel-war-gaza-hamas-conditions-aid/

Israel’s war against Hamas is just, but it must be fought justly

By Chris Van Hollen, December 6, 2023

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Comments

HasanZR

Senator Chris Van Hollen's well-meaning words should resonate with anyone seeking peace and justice in the Middle East. Unfortunately, his words are just that, words. No US President or Congress has been able to check an Israeli government led by right-wing ideologues, Benjamin Netanyahu being the most virulent example. Netanyahu will do as he pleases because he knows he can undermine any initiative by the U.S. government by calling on his supporters in Congress and the Senate to oppose such initiatives. What Hamas did on Oct 7 was genocide. As a Muslim American, I condemned the carnage and will always condemn it. Hamas doesn't care for ordinary Palestinians whom they would use as sacrificial lambs to hold on to power. But the Israeli response? Over 16,000 Gazans are already dead, mostly children and women, and the carnage shows no sign of stopping. They are being killed by American-made weapons. How can this be justified? With every passing day, a Two-State solution, the only solution that can lead to peace, and that is desired by the majority of Israelis and Palestinians, recedes into the background. I am hoping and praying that Senator Hollen's amendment will make a difference and quench Netanyahu's thirst for revenge but if recent history is any guide, it doesn't look good.

 

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Teddy H
As you know, there is no possibility of a two state solution while Hamas is in power.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/opinion/war-faith-theology.html

The Theological Truth We Must Press During War

Dec. 10, 2023

By Esau McCaulley

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Comments

Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose 50m ago

Esau McCaulley's heart is in the right place but in this moving essay he stops short of writing that the horrendous toll on the lives of Gazans cannot be justified under any condition. More than 60% of the over 16,000 Gazans who have lost their lives so far are children and women, non-combatants caught in the war brought on by the carnage Hamas created on Oct 7. As a Muslim American, I condemned Hamas for its carnage but now the pendulum has swung to the other extreme, and Israel is killing civilians in Gaza with impunity, with weapons made in America. Hamas doesn't care about the fate of Palestinians but to wreak disproportionate revenge on civilians, as Israel is now doing, can never be justified. The U.S. has vetoed the U.N. call for a cease-fire and the president has bypassed congressional approval for selling millions of dollars' worth of ammunition for tanks Israel is using in Gaza. Can extremism be defeated by extremism? No. No one is invoking a God of compassion as the death toll mounts. This is a tragedy that transcends cruelty in all its horrendous dimensions.

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A

Denver 6h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Are we sure that extremism can't defeat extremism? I think history proves that is incorrect. It is not polite or nice to say because we live in such a privileged world we prefer to pretend this mostly peaceful world we live in was not gained by immense savagery. Of all the tribes of humans that have lived, only a few hundreds remain out of 100,000s. The rest were wiped out, conquered, assimilated. If there is a cease-fire, and Hamas remains in control of Gaza, what will Israel do when the next Hamas attack kills 12,000 rather than 1,200? Hamas will not stop killing and it bends the immense creativity and productivity of the Palestinians in Gaza to further the worship of death rather than working to produce anything positive for the children in who will grow up in a hate filled, bombed, wreckage with true freedom for Palestinians even further away than it is now. Did South Africa end apartheid by mass terrorism? Did Gandhi eject the British by violent atrocities? When did Ireland find peace? Only after the terrorists laid down their weapons and negotiated with their enemies. Hamas is proposing the older vision of human savagery that kills the opposing tribe, yet it is not a contest with equal odds of success, Israel could wipe out Hamas and all Palestinians if it shared Hamas' vision of victory via savage violence. Hamas' strategy is based on the idea Israel is too mentally weak to win and relies on Israel's civility to remain free to kill.

Reply 6 Recommend

Dave

Providence 4h ago

@Hasan Z Rahim Everything you say is correct but it is up to Hamas to spare its own citizens. If Hamas repatriated the hostages there would be a cease fire. If Hamas didnt hide in schools, hospitals and within the population, there would certainly be fewer killed. If Hamas truly cared about their people why would they not repatriate a few hundred Israelis to save thousands of Gazans? And this is precisely why Israel must root them out. I eagerly await your reply.

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Hasan Z Rahim

San Jose

@Dave On Oct 8th when newspapers began publishing the horrifying Hamas carnage, I wrote as a Muslim American in many commentary sections in the NY Times and Washington Post opinion pieces that the first unconditional and unambiguous step must be for Hamas to free the hostages. Hamas will play the hostage card even if it means the death of thousands of Palestinians. But it is also clear that extremist Hamas has met its extremist match in the Israeli response. Netanyahu is dropping bombs on Gaza like rain because he knows that unless the crisis continues, he will be out of power. Who are dying? Israelis and Palestinians who are willing to live in a Two-State solution where both can live side-by-side in peace. It is the death of this ideal that is so tragic!

Dave commented 4 hours ago

Dave

Providence4h ago

@A Amen. I am appalled by the hypocrisy of people vilifying Israel when Hamas could return a few hundred Israelis and other nationals and have a cease fire. And yes anyone who cant grasp this is indeed an antisemite rather than someone motivated by pity for innocent Gazans. Hamas has the power to end this at this very second.

Reply 5 Recommend

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/international-world/us-government-gaza-humanitarian-aid.html

The U.S. Must Change Course on Gaza Today

Dec. 11, 2023

By Michelle Nunn, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Jan Egeland, Abby Maxman, Jeremy Konyndyk and Janti Soeripto

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Comment

 

Hasan Z Rahim, San Jose

 

Israel is killing civilians in Gaza with impunity, with weapons made in, and supplied by, America. Hamas doesn't care about the fate of Palestinians but to wreak disproportionate revenge on civilians, as Israel is now doing, with the death toll in Gaza rapidly approaching 20,000, can never be justified. The U.S. has vetoed the U.N. call for a cease-fire and the White House has bypassed congressional approval for selling millions of dollars of ammunition for tanks Israel is using in Gaza. This is a tragedy that transcends cruelty in all its horrifying dimensions. As a Muslim American, I condemned, and continue to condemn, the carnage caused by Hamas. Hamas should unconditionally release all the hostages. But what Israel under PM Netanyahu is now doing is savagery carried to the extreme as well. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers are either killing Palestinians or forcing them out and grabbing their homes. In what way is Israel’s current government different from Hamas? In this holiday season when we pray for peace on earth, let the Two-State solution become a reality where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace, free from the clutches of extremists on both sides.

 

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/16/west-bank-settlers-violence-peace/

In the West Bank, I saw how peace will require confrontation with Israel

 

By David Ignatius

December 16, 2023

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Comments

HasanZR

There is no difference between Hamas bent on the destruction of Israel, and Israeli extremists, particularly West Bank settlers, who will never agree to a Two-State solution. While the U.S. can condemn Hamas, and rightly so, for its nihilism, the U.S. is a paper tiger when it comes to Israel and its leadership. The U.S. call for a Two-State solution brings a mocking shrug from Netanyahu and his right-wing government because the Israeli PM knows he can manipulate U.S. leadership with the help of his enablers in Congress and the Senate. Is there a way out of this darkness? A thin ray of hope comes from the Israelis and the Palestinians who want to coexist in peace. But they are essentially powerless and their efforts can take decades to bear fruit, if at all. But history has a way to surprise and make the unimaginable a reality. May we witness that surprise in our lifetime.

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