Hamas and Its Empty Threats

The threats came to naught, and Palestinians are left feeling “hopeless” and without a real response to the blue and white flag march in Jerusalem.

By Aviel Schneider | | Topics: Jerusalem, Hamas
Yehya Al-Sinwar, head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, speaks at a rally to mark the annual Al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) in Gaza April 15, 2023. Photo by Atia Mohammed/Flash90
Yehya Al-Sinwar, head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, speaks at a rally to mark the annual Al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on April 15, 2023. Photo by Atia Mohammed/Flash90

The flag march is behind us and no rockets have been fired at Jerusalem. A Gaza journalist stated: “If a rocket response by Hamas means the destruction of Gaza, and no response means humiliation [for the Palestinians], I propose keeping quiet.”

The massive display of flags and Israeli pride through the streets of Jerusalem yesterday caused many Palestinians to feel a deep sense of frustration and helplessness in light of unfulfilled threats from senior Hamas officials and those of other factions. And this is particularly evident on social media.

Screenshot

This political cartoon made the rounds on Palestinian social media this morning. Hamas, which made so much of being the “defender of Jerusalem” against the hated Zionists, is mocked for doing nothing during yesterday’s massive Israeli flag march. Hamas, according to the cartoon, was too distracted by briefcases full of dollars passed to it by Qatar to realize that the Jews were “stealing Jerusalem.”

And about that money… Today the Palestinians residents of Gaza were supposed to receive a Qatari donation of $100 each, but it has been postponed to an unknown date. The Qatari ambassador is expected to arrive in Gaza tomorrow and maybe then set the new date. Supporters of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah movement ridiculed Hamas over the unpaid donations, which they say prevent Hamas from carrying out threats such as rocket attacks on Israel. “The Zionists today desecrated the Al-Aqsa Mosque – while Hamas became slaves to the dollar.”

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Palestinians receive their financial aid as part of aid provided by Qatar at a post office in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90

A prominent Palestinian journalist from the Gaza Strip, who was forced to flee following threats from Hamas, wrote this morning: “Those who always call for Gaza to intervene to protect Palestine [sic] and Jerusalem are asking more of Hamas and Gaza than Hamas can offer the Palestinians. Gaza is just a small and poor territory under siege and part of the occupied homeland [sic]. Israel, on the other hand, is a country with nuclear capabilities. The logic is that Gaza should only deliver what it can provide. We must reduce the boasting, blasphemy and empty threats. Everyone knows everyone in Gaza, we know the truth in Gaza, but still we exaggerate and play as if we’re something we’re not. Those who constantly demand something from Gaza should stand with the people of Gaza, not against them. Try to make it easy for them and not steal their money in the name of their homeland and religion.”

Residents of Gaza May 14, 2023 stand in front of the rubble of a house destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during recent fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Photo by Atia Mohammed/Flash90

After Hamas and its terrorist allies tried to encourage attacks against the flag march in Jerusalem on Palestinian social media, it has become clear today that all senior Hamas politicians have disappeared. It all came to naught. Video clips filled with blue and white flags dominated Palestinian social media yesterday. Nothing was bombed and the Palestinians feel powerless and without a real response to the demonstration of Israeli pride in Jerusalem.

Hamas political bureau head Ismail Haniya issued a statement trying in vain to spin the narrative in order to explain the lack of a response to Israeli policies in Jerusalem: “The willingness of the Zionist entity from north to south to protect the flag parade shows the fragile security situation in which Israel finds itself. The battle with the enemy continues and our nation will only settle the score by liberating the entire country. The closure of the streets of Jerusalem indicates the fear of the settlers.”

Yes, security forces were deployed, but the streets of Jerusalem were closed to allow for the flag march, not out of fear, as Haniya tried to claim as an excuse for doing nothing about it. Among Palestinians, there is a growing realization that their leaders are all talk.

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One response to “Hamas and Its Empty Threats”

  1. Vernon Ryan says:
    May 19, 2023 at 5:57 pm

    Looking at the situation from the outside of Israel, it looks like the terrorist groups leaders start running out of money, spending it on their lavish lifestyles, they have to have their terrorists step into the ring with Israel, get their butts whipped, then hold out their hands to their contributors for consolation. It is sad that there are a lot of suckers in this world that fall for it every time. The victims living in Gaza still have to live under the oppression of the terrorists who rule over them.

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