Humanity’s holocaust

The war against Hamas is not only the fight of Israel but should be an international effort to defeat terror groups, considering the international dimension of the carnage.

In a war, there is no justification for protagonists to resort to slaughter and the abduction of civilians, which are acts of cowardice and unbridled evil at the same time.

Using weapons to harm civilians is unacceptable in the civilized world, which makes the Hamas act on 7 October and thereafter the exact definition of terrorism.

The release of hostages in batches does not improve the image of Hamas to the world, which has become aware of the ruthless character of the group supposedly fighting for the independence of Palestine.

Hamas practices the same brand of terrorism as the Islamic State and the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups in the local setting, all abominations of the faith that teaches peace and coexistence.

The 7 October terror attack was the worst in Israel’s 75-year history, if not the world’s, with the massacre of 1,400 individuals by a murderous horde that crossed the border from Gaza.

Around 200 foreigners were confirmed dead by their national authorities, many also holding Israeli nationality.

Israel estimates 222 people were abducted.

The United States reported 31 dead, 13 missing, others abducted, with 13 Americans unaccounted for.

Hamas released two American hostages on Friday, which was calculated to delay the imminent ground assault by Israeli troops.

Another two Israeli hostages were released on Tuesday.

Thailand has among the most casualties after Israel and the US, with 30 dead. Some 19 Thai hostages are in the hands of the terror organization. About 30,000 Thais work in Israel, most in the agricultural sector.

France counted 30 dead, one hostage and six missing; Russia: 19 dead, two hostages, seven missing; Ukraine has 18 dead; the United Kingdom reported nine dead, seven missing; Nepal revealed 10 of its citizens killed and one missing; Argentina has nine dead and 21 missing; Canada said six citizens died while two are missing; Austria confirmed four deaths while one is missing; China’s foreign ministry said four Chinese were killed and two missing.

An attack on a kibbutz and on the music festival, just kilometers from the Gaza border, killed four Filipinos, while two are missing.

It does not stop there as Portugal also counted four dead and four missing; Romania reported five dead and one taken hostage; Belarus counted three dead, one missing; Brazil has three deaths; Peru has three deaths and four missing; South Africa announced two of its nationals had been killed.

Australia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey have reported at least one of their citizens were slaughtered.

The German foreign ministry said Wednesday that many of their nationals were killed without giving a precise number.

Nations with unaccounted-for citizens who were likely taken hostage are Mexico, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.

Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss told DAILY TRIBUNE editors that the war against Hamas is not only the fight of Israel but should be an international effort to defeat terror groups, considering the international dimension of the carnage.

Fluss was also reminded of the Holocaust, which was Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s genocide of Jews in World War II, a method employed by Hamas in the plunder and murder of civilians that included burning people alive.

Several of those killed were children, babies, and the elderly who could barely walk. Even the most ruthless gangs in other nations do not involve the weak in their acts of violence.

Indeed, 7 October will live in infamy as the second Holocaust that has affected the whole civilized world.

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Credit belongs to: tribune.net.ph