A Toronto human rights group says that Hamas intentionally endangers Palestinians to shape global opinions against Israel, and says that demonstrations in Western countries supporting the terrorist group’s attack on Israel last month are part of this strategy.
The report condemns Hamas for multiple violations of international humanitarian laws during its assault on Israel, resulting in an estimated 1,200 casualties and the abduction of over 200 civilians. Additionally, it highlighted the group’s atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.
“The vicious nature of the attack and the evidence of Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields can only lead to one conclusion. Hamas is not engaging this strategy ’regardless of the cost' to its own people, but at their intentional sacrifice,” the report stated.
“The goal is to cause Israel to react to Hamas’s actions in such a way that the resulting inevitable civilian deaths would turn international opinion against Israel.”
Condemning Pro-Hamas Rallies
The OFWI report raised concerns about the various demonstrations that erupted across European and North American cities in the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7.
“For many Israelis and Jews around the world, as well as fair-minded people everywhere, the most harrowing part of the whole attack was not the attack itself or the images of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip ... These were to be expected,” it states.
“Rather, it was the seemingly spontaneous and surprisingly extensive demonstrations in support of Hamas and its atrocities that sprung up in cities across Europe and North America within 24 to 48 hours of the attack that chilled Jewish people to the bone.”
OFWI said pro-Hamas demonstrations in the West should not be considered a side issue and need to be addressed seriously.
Support from Authoritarian States
Mr. El Shafie, who travelled to Kibbutz Be'eri, one of the communities near the Gaza Strip that came under attack, stated that his team uncovered additional evidence indicating support provided to Hamas by other authoritarian regimes and entities. In particular, he pointed to Iran, China, and the terrorist group ISIS.“We found more information about how Hamas did not [act] alone. They acted with the help and the support of the Iranians; they [had] help and support of many of the other terrorist groups in Gaza,” he told The Epoch Times’ sister company NTD Television.
OFWI’s report alleges Hamas had been planning and preparing the attack for at least two years, with its forces receiving training and guidance from ISIS in the Sinai Province. It also alleges that Hamas coordinated with Hezbollah and the Houthis, Iran’s proxies in Lebanon and Yemen, respectively.
“The ISIS connection helps explain the viciousness of the October 7th attack and how Hamas was able, within less than 24 hours, to commit virtually every war crime and crime against humanity imaginable,” the report says.
Mr. El Shafie further pointed to China’s involvement, stating that the communist regime has been “a major supporter of almost every dictatorship and every dark force on the planet.”
