Opinion | Ignorant Protesters Rally Against IDF Mission For Hostages
As pro-Palestinian advocates rallied against Israel’s military actions in Rafah, the overshadowed issue of hostages continues to linger.
Israeli Defense Force in Gaza (Courtesy of Reuters)
The Israel-Palestine conflict has once again captured global attention, this time due to the recent discovery of two hostages in Rafah, a city situated on the border of the Gaza Strip. The hostages, Louis Har and Fernando Marman, are dual citizens of Israel and Argentina.
On October 7, Har and Marman were two of hundreds unexpectedly abducted by Hamas during a barbaric attack on their homes in Nir Yitzhak Kibbutz. Last month, after enduring a harrowing 128 days of captivity, both men were reunited with their families at Sheba Medical Center, following a daring mission executed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Har and Marman reuniting with family members (Courtesy of Israel Defense Forces)
Upon learning of the heroic rescue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to enter the city. He also expressed Israel’s eagerness for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Fox’s morning news show, Fox and Friends.
“Obviously, we want this deal if we can have it. It depends on Hamas — it’s really now their decision. I think the groundwork has been laid, but they have to step up to the plate.”
(Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu)
In recent weeks, Israel has shown a willingness to engage more actively in efforts led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to establish a ceasefire. The proposed agreement would halt the conflict for approximately six weeks and secure the release of 35 to 45 hostages. However, the deal has once again encountered a familiar roadblock: the unreasonable and contradictory demands of Hamas.
While Israel has appealed for the release of babies and the remains of fallen soldiers, Hamas has called for the release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners, like Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat, and Abdullah Barghouti. Additionally, Hamas refuses to give proof-of-life for the many hostages whose status remains unknown. This has significantly complicated any possible ceasefire arrangement. Thus, it appears that Israel has no choice but to enter Rafah and rescue its citizens in an independent military operation.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Courtesy of Reuters)
Israel’s decision to intervene in Rafah was immediately met with resistance from pro-Palestinian protesters, despite this newfound presence of hostages in the region. The situation drew the attention of celebrities like actor Sara Ramirez (they/them), who have been openly critical of Israel since the onset of the conflict.
In collaboration with “The Palestinian Youth Movement,” Ramirez organized extensive protests throughout New York City on March 2, 2024. The goal of these protests was to collectively reject any invasion of Rafah. In their speech, Ramirez positioned themselves as an artist opposing “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide.”
However, Ramirez’s condemnation of the loss of Palestinian civilian lives stands in stark contrast to their silence on Hamas’ brutal acts towards Israeli civilians on October 7. Ramirez also failed to advocate for the release of the hostages enduring torture in Gaza.
This raises a critical question: Are the intentions of individuals like Ramirez truly aligned with the Palestinian cause, or are they ignorant of the truth and possibly disguising their anti-Semitism? If Ramirez and others were truly opposed to genocide, wouldn’t they denounce Hamas, a terrorist organization actively seeking to eliminate the entire Jewish population? Ramirez and others have engaged in selective outrage, coupled with conspicuous silence, unveiling serious doubts about the authenticity of their alignment with the Palestinian cause.
On March 2, the protests coordinated by figures like Ramirez, led to multiple arrests. The arrests involved protesters refusing to disperse or engaging in acts of civil disobedience. Confrontations between protesters and police escalated into violence, including pushing, shoving, and verbal altercations.
In one shocking case, a protester left a hand grenade in the back of an Uber vehicle. The situation became so serious that the NYPD bomb squad was called after the Uber driver discovered the grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue. Several protesters were subsequently arrested for obstructing first responders who were trying to access the Uber vehicle.
A person escorted during the “Hands off Rafah” protest in Washington Square Park on Saturday, March 2, 2024 in New York City. (Courtesy of John Angelillo)
It is essential to critically examine the actions of those who resort to extreme violence as a form of “protest.” Their stance is hypocritical when considering their vision for Israel—a nation they expect to remain passive and stagnant. Like any other sovereign country, Israel has the right to safeguard its citizens and ensure their safe return home; but how can they do so as a country if they are not allowed to take any defensive action?
Let’s not forget who started this all. On October 7, Hamas breached Israeli borders, kidnapped innocent citizens, and ignited a cycle of violence that has culminated in the loss of thousands of innocent lives. Fast forward to today, and Israel is embroiled in a conflict with an enemy that dismisses the very core of human values these protesters claim to champion.
In the interest of peace and humanity, it’s time to bring the hostages home. If these protesters truly wanted peace, they too would join in on this call for the safe return of the hostages, a return only possible through Israel’s invasion of Rafah. Negotiations don’t seem to be working, and let’s be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it’s a widely known truth: you don’t negotiate with terrorists.