Author: Avivit Bar-Ilan, Ambassador of Israel to Serbia    

In the last two weeks, the world was confronted with a chilling display of Hamas’s monstrous propaganda, as young Israeli women kidnapped on October 7, 2023, were barely walking through crowds of masked armed men, as an 80-year-old hostage was pushed and paraded through an angry mob and Thai foreign workers released after almost 500 days of captivity in Gaza. Hamas is still holding 82 hostages, with 23 set to be released in the coming days as part of the first phase of the deal. This phase includes the release of 33 women, children, men over 50, as well as wounded and sick hostages, in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners. However, the fate of the remaining hostages, including Israeli-Serbian citizen Alon Ohel, remains uncertain, as their release depends on a second phase that is still under negotiation.

Currently, numerous hostages remain trapped in Gaza, with many feared to be dead. According to the framework’s terms, for each civilian hostage released, Israel will free 30 Palestinian prisoners, and for each female soldier, 50 prisoners. Additionally, Israel is set to release 1,000 detainees from Gaza who were not involved in the October 7 attack, a brutal assault that claimed 1,200 lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages.

The horrible scene on January 19, in which first three female hostages—tortured for 470 days in Gaza—were paraded through a hostile crowd before being handed over to the Red Cross, underscores Hamas’s barbarism. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder: Terrorist organisation Hamas bears full responsibility for the suffering inflicted on both Israelis and Palestinians. There is no peace with Hamas. Its continued rule spells devastation not only for Israel but for the Palestinian people and the broader region.

Hamas’s brutality was made evident on October 7 when it launched an unprecedented assault on Israel, murdering civilians, including children and elderly, raping and maiming innocent people, burning their homes. The attack shattered families and deepened the region’s suffering. But the hardship does not stop with Israelis—Gazans, too, bear the cost of Hamas’s reign.

While claiming to fight for Palestinian liberation, Hamas has prioritized dictatorship and militarization over the well-being of its people. It has weaponized humanitarian aid, redirected resources toward terror infrastructure, and built an extensive network of tunnels used for warfare rather than civilian protection. These same tunnels, in which Hamas tortures Israeli hostages, remain off-limits to Gazans seeking shelter.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a direct consequence of Hamas’s misrule. Even before October 7, Gaza was in economic ruin, with crumbling infrastructure, failing healthcare, and soaring unemployment. Hamas’s obsession with conflict has condemned its people to perpetual suffering, with no vision for a future beyond war.

Hamas’s continued rule eliminates any hope for a better future. For Gazans, it means enduring oppression under a regime that values violence over prosperity. For Israelis, it means a persistent security threat. For the broader region, Hamas remains a destabilizing force, promoting radical Islamism and advancing Iranian interests.

Indeed, Hamas’s allegiance to Iran—the so-called “axis of evil”—fuels extremism and regional turmoil. Tehran’s influence emboldens Hamas, ensuring that conflict remains ongoing. The international community must acknowledge this reality: a Gaza ruled by Hamas offers no pathway to peace, only endless cycles of violence and instability.

Removing Hamas is not just an Israeli priority—it is a necessity for regional security. Without Hamas, Gaza could rebuild. Without Hamas, both Gazans and Israelis could envision a future free from perpetual conflict.

The world must act decisively in dismantling Hamas’s power structure. Its continued control guarantees despair for Gazans, fear for Israelis, and instability for the region. Now is the time to envision and work toward a future where Hamas no longer casts its shadow over the Middle East.

Photo credits: Embassy of Israel in Serbia