THE FREE PALESTINE Propaganda and MARCHES DEBUNKED by Graham Healy

THE FREE PALESTINE Propaganda and MARCHES DEBUNKED by Graham Healy sat 11/7/26 **Hamas is a designated terrorist organization whose explicit goal is the destruction of Israel, not Palestinian self-determination.**

Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or Islamic Resistance Movement) is an Islamist militant group and offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. It has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States (since 1997), the EU, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and others. Its 1988 Charter explicitly calls for the obliteration of Israel: "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it." It invokes antisemitic tropes, including calls for killing Jews, and frames the conflict as a religious jihad to eliminate the Jewish state and establish Islamic rule over "Palestine" (from the river to the sea).

A 2017 document updated some messaging for PR, but core leaders and actions affirm the genocidal intent toward Israel and Jews. Hamas governs Gaza since 2007 (after winning elections and violently ousting Fatah), prioritizing military infrastructure over civilian welfare.

### October 7, 2023: Hamas's Atrocity Launched the Current War

On October 7, Hamas-led terrorists (with other groups) launched a surprise invasion, murdering ~1,200 people (mostly civilians, including ~800 confirmed civilians, women, children, elderly, and foreigners), raping, mutilating, and taking 251 hostages. This was the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

Hamas's own footage and statements celebrated it as "Al-Aqsa Flood." This was not "resistance" to occupation (Israel had withdrawn from Gaza in 2005); it was a deliberate massacre to provoke war and maximize Jewish/Israeli deaths.

### "Free Palestine" Protests Often Function as Support for Hamas

Many protests feature Hamas/Hezbollah flags, chants like "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" (Hamas's eliminationist slogan), "Globalize the Intifada," "Resistance is justified," and glorification of "martyrs." Organizers like Within Our Lifetime explicitly back "resistance in all forms." Post-Oct 7 rallies in places like Times Square included "700" chants (referencing early Israeli deaths) and support for the attack.

While some participants seek peace or two states, the dominant organized messaging aligns with Hamas/Islamist goals: rejecting Israel's existence. This is not neutral "Free Palestine" advocacy—it's frequently a vehicle for endorsing a terrorist group that diverts billions in aid to tunnels and weapons while oppressing Gazans (executions of opponents, repression of women/LGBT, etc.).

### Genocide Accusations Against Israel Are Unfounded; They Are Propaganda Inverting Reality

**Genocide** (per 1948 UN Convention) requires **specific intent** to destroy a group (national, ethnic, racial, religious) in whole or in part, via killing, serious harm, or conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction.

- **Israel's stated goal**: Destroy Hamas's military capability after Oct 7, rescue hostages, and prevent future attacks—not eradicate Palestinians. Israel has repeatedly offered ceasefires, warned civilians via calls/texts/leaflets/"roof-knocking," and facilitated aid (despite Hamas interference). Population in Gaza has grown substantially over decades under Hamas rule.

- **Casualty context**: In dense urban warfare where Hamas embeds in civilian areas, Israel's combatant-to-civilian ratio is historically low for such fighting (claims around 1:1 to 1:1.5 by Israeli sources; independent estimates vary but urban warfare norms are far higher civilian tolls, e.g., 90%+ in some cases). Hamas claims high totals via its Health Ministry (unverified, lumps combatants, doesn't distinguish), but Israel reports killing ~17,000+ Hamas/PIJ fighters out of ~30k total militants pre-war.

ICJ (South Africa v. Israel) found "plausible risk" for provisional measures to prevent genocide but **did not rule Israel is committing genocide**, ordered no ceasefire, and the case is ongoing with no final merits decision. Israel rejects the claims. Accusations rely heavily on Hamas-sourced numbers and ignore context.

This is classic propaganda inversion: Hamas commits documented atrocities and uses civilians as shields; Israel is accused of "genocide" for defending itself. Real genocidal intent is in Hamas's charter and Oct 7 actions.

### Hamas's Terror Tunnels and Disregard for Civilians

Hamas built a vast "Gaza Metro" network: hundreds of km of tunnels (estimates 500+ km), deep underground (20-50m+), with electricity, rails, ventilation. Used for:

- Command centers, weapon storage, fighter movement.

- Cross-border attacks (e.g., Oct 7 infiltrations).

- Hiding hostages.

Tunnels run under civilian sites: hospitals (e.g., Al-Shifa evidence of tunnels/weapons/command), schools, mosques, homes. IDF has destroyed large portions.

**Human shields strategy**: Hamas deliberately places military assets in/near protected civilian infrastructure (hospitals, schools, UN facilities) to deter attacks or maximize PR casualties when struck. This violates international law. Leaders admit prioritizing "resistance" over Gazan lives—e.g., Ghazi Hamad vowing repeats of Oct 7 "until Israel is annihilated," sacrificing civilians.

Hamas diverts aid (taxes, seizes convoys, stockpiles for fighters), builds tunnels/weapons instead of bomb shelters for civilians, and rejects peace offers. Gaza's misery stems primarily from Hamas governance, not just the conflict.

### Bottom Line

"Free Palestine" as chanted in many protests aligns with Hamas's vision: no Israel, endless jihad. The "genocide" narrative is inverted propaganda to shield Hamas and delegitimize Israel's self-defense. Hamas started this round with massacre and embeds in civilians to inflate deaths for media victory. Israel targets terrorists while trying to spare civilians in an impossible urban battlefield Hamas engineered. Peace requires defeating Hamas, deradicalization, and rejecting eliminationist ideologies—not "freeing" Palestine by erasing the Jewish state. Facts over slogans.