#opinion, Dear Diary, Page 14: Talking About Gaza…

During biblical times, and earlier, what is today called Gaza was Philistia. The Philistines were peoples from the coasts of the Aegean Sea. But through that narrow place between the Mediterranean and the Sinai Desert, many tribes and civilizations have passed. The Persians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Greeks, and the Romans. During the Byzantine Empire, the Gaza Strip was Christianised and became a center of learning, wisdom and cultural expansion. It was not until the year 637 A.D. that Muslim armies captured Gaza and annexed it to the Rashidun Caliphate, which began the Arabization of the strip. They imposed Islam, and the Arabs mixed with the existing population.

From 1517 to 1917, Gaza was part of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Arabs, Christians, and Jews coexisted in Gaza peacefully. From 1917 to 1948, Gaza was administered by the British government. In 1948, immediately after the creation of the state of Israel, Egypt attacked, and Gaza became territory administered by the Egyptian army; the strip was officially created and declared a territorial zone added but separate from Egypt. In 1967, Israel was attacked by the armies of an Arab coalition, composed of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) defeated all the Arab armies and conquered the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. This was the so-called “Six-Day War.”

It should be noted that Israel, after the Six-Day War, took control of Gaza, as they had won it in battle, and began to modernise it. They built roads, electrical networks, water systems, schools, hospitals, and all the other necessities of a civilized society. This greatly benefited the local Muslims (the so-called Palestinians). Furthermore, they were able to seek employment and improve their lives in Israel. This lasted until 1994, when, following the Oslo Accords, Gaza came under the control of the Palestinian National Authority. With international assistance from USAID, the EU, Japan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, roads, hospitals, schools, and water treatment plants continued to be constructed in the strip.

Then in 2007 Hamas arrived. This terrorist group rejects the legitimacy of the State of Israel. They believe only in armed resistance and have vowed to fight until the Jewish state has disappeared. Ever since they were formed in 1987 they have declared that «Israel exists and will continue to exist until Islam destroys it». They consider that Palestine is the historical area that was named Palestine by the Romans after they expelled the Jews and destroyed the Temple. They consider the entire area Islamic territory, which they call the “waqf” (the inalienable). Hamas completely rejects any solution that is not «total liberation» of Palestine. They do not recognise the Oslo Accords nor any direct negotiation with Israel.

From its origins, Hamas has carried out thousands of suicide attacks against Israel as well as uncountable rocket attacks on to Israeli territory, as well as other terrorist actions against Israeli objectives. Their motto is armed resistance and that is their principal way of negotiating. They indoctrinate their children and force radical Islamic ideas into their heads. From early childhood the are taught the creed that Israel must be destroyed. Hamas has the people of Gaza that might not be in agreement with their ways under a strict Islamic dictatorship. They use their population as human shields, including women, the elderly and children. The cycle of indoctrination commences with the very young, then becomes more aggressive with adolescents until they are ready to become guerrilla terrorists or suicide bombers. Once they have died in their criminal act, they are converted into martyrs and money is given to their families. This has been the reality ever since Hamas has been governing Gaza. How can Israel, or any other country live next to such neighbours?

On the 7th of October of 2023 Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza. They murdered 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others, converting them into hostages. They were taken to Gaza. By June of 2025 they had only released 148 of the hostages and at the same time re-patriated the bodies of 56 dead ones. Note that on the very day of the attack, October 7, 75 hostages died in captivity. Now there are 50 hostages still imprisoned by Hamas but it is believed that only 20 are alive. Why don’t they talk about this genocide in the news media here in Europe and in the US? Why don’t they accuse Hamas of crimes against humanity? And if they want to accept that this is a war, why do they not acuse Hamas of war crimes and demand ther immediate arrest of their leaders?

What is the result of all this horror caused by a terrorist organization that Europe wants to recognize as a legitimate government? The result is that Israel will finally do what is right, what is indicated, and what is necessary. Not only for peace in the region but for the well-being of the Muslim citizens who currently occupy Gaza. It seems disgusting to me to see how the news broadcasts in my country (Spain) have become the voice of a terrorist group and daily spew Hamas propaganda. The Palestinian people (if such a people exists; let’s say they do) deserve peace just as much as the Israeli people. But there is no peace without coexistence and respect. Israel built everything that was beautiful and useful in Gaza. Hamas is the one that has destroyed it. Let them stop deceiving us.

And since I was asked to write about Gaza, here it is, and what I said is my opinion, but based on historical facts, not on pro-Palestinian propaganda, which in summary is propaganda pro-Hamas. I am not affiliated with any political party, nor do I lean in any direction, neither to the right nor to the left. I am a free thinker who studies, researches, and does not get carried away.

Somewhere on the shores of the Aegean Sea, today, Monday, August 11, 2025.

CHEERS