Hamas again shows true colours

The despicable murder in cold blood of six more innocent hostages is a chilling reminder of Hamas’s grotesque inhumanity and the folly of world leaders, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who persistently warned Israel against going after the terrorists in their Rafah stronghold. Nothing can justify the utterly depraved and barbaric execution of people who did no more than attend a music festival on October 7, the day Hamas slaughtered 1200 Jews. Autopsies show Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, were each shot multiple times at close range as Israeli forces closed in last weekend on the Rafah tunnel complex where they were being held. Their execution does nothing for the cause of a Free Palestine or perceptions of Hamas as anything but a monstrous terrorist outfit.

Yet earlier this year, shortsighted opposition by the Biden administration to what Israeli commanders believed was a strategically crucial invasion of Rafah that was essential for both the destruction of Hamas and recovery of the hostages meant the attack had to be held back for three vital months. That delay gave the Hamas terrorists invaluable breathing space to regroup and consolidate their positions in the vast tunnel complex. Mr Biden and Ms Harris were far from alone when they warned of dire “consequences” for Israel if it attacked Rafah. So did other world leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Global humanitarian groups also warned of a disaster if Israel tried to evacuate two million Gazans from Rafah. That did not happen, of course. The evacuation was carried out efficiently over a period of two weeks with what The Wall Street Journal reported were “notably low civilian casualties”. Now, almost 11 months into the war, the cruel slaughter of the six shows the terrorists have still not lost the capacity to operate in their Rafah stronghold. It is likely that as long as they can do so, there will be little realistic hope for a ceasefire or the release of the 97 hostages still believed to be alive.

The despair of the families and friends of the latest victims of Hamas’s barbaric evil is both heartbreaking and understandable. So is the anger of those in Israel and elsewhere who believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has much to answer for over the failure to free the hostages. Even those such as Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are critical of Mr Netanyahu’s failure on the hostage issue, pointing out that time is running out to save them. As David Horovitz wrote in the Times of Israel on Monday, Mr Netanyahu’s own security chiefs, including Mr Gallant, have made clear for months their belief that he should have been more flexible in seeking to draw Hamas into a (ceasefire) agreement. Horovitz pointed out that only eight hostages have been extricated alive from Gaza during almost 11 months of war. By contrast, last November’s week-long truce saw the release of 105 hostages.

There is also a need for realism about the way Hamas, by executing the hostages and creating outrage within Israel and globally, is cynically seeking to increase pressure on Mr Netanyahu to make more concessions. The execution of the six after almost 11 months in captivity demands solid support for Israel in its war to destroy Hamas, not constant carping about the Jewish state’s battle for survival against terrorists who are showing themselves to be every bit as evil as Islamic State at the height of its rampage.