Former hostage Emily Damari is reunited with her mother, on Jan. 19, 2025. Credit: Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit.

The entire Israeli nation has followed the return of the Israeli hostages to their homes. The emotional reunions, tears, and embraces have symbolized the victory of spirit and humanity over the cruelty and terror of Hamas and the Palestinian factions.

At the same time, in other places, Palestinians celebrated the release of prisoners convicted of murdering innocent civilians, presenting it as a historic victory. These individuals are called “Jihad fighters” in Arabic, but in Western discourse, they are often referred to as “freedom fighters,” a term more palatable to the Western ear — as though they represent an ideological movement akin to the one created by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hamas tried to present the prisoner exchange deal with a royal touch, framing the return of the Israeli hostages as a “humanitarian gesture” on their part. The settings have included an official table, bureaucratic stamps, and the presence of European Red Cross personnel, who played their part in what seemed like a poorly executed school play — all to create a narrative in which Hamas appeared to have defeated the Israelis and emerged as the master, while continuing to present Zionism as an existential threat to the Islamic world.

The gap between rhetoric and reality sharpens when examining Hamas’ actions in a broader context. The organization professes commitment to Islamic principles, yet its actions blatantly contravene basic tenets of classical Islam. The Koran itself states: “Those hypocrites who remained behind rejoiced for doing so in defiance of the Messenger of Allah and hated the prospect of striving with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah” (Surah Al-Tawbah, 81).

The religious command to fight the enemy without fear stands in stark contrast to Hamas’ actions, which involve attacking innocent civilians while hiding behind the people of Gaza.

Rather than fighting as a military force against another military force, Hamas members hide in tunnels, leaving the population in the eye of the storm, and exploiting their suffering for political purposes. The primary casualties among the IDF in Gaza are the result of roadside bombs and traps — not direct combat, but cowardly sabotage tactics. The leaders of the organization are not fighters; they speak grandly, and then send others to their deaths while fleeing to fortified tunnels.

While the people of Gaza suffer from shortages and destruction, Hamas leaders enjoy lives of luxury in Doha and Istanbul. Their personal wealth, the result of political extortion and control over aid budgets, is in complete contradiction to their claims of sacrifice and jihad.

Even after the fighting ends, the heavy toll continues to be paid by the people of Gaza. The roadside bombs that Hamas planted in the streets have now become deadly traps for the civilians returning to northern Gaza. However, does the international community speak out? Do human rights organizations denounce this cynicism? The answer is clear.

Hamas’ charter states “jihad is the path” and “death for Allah is the highest of aspirations.” Their texts describe a paradise of alcohol, forbidden foods, and sexual pleasures for those who die for Allah, but it seems that the leaders of the organization prefer another route: fleeing, inciting, and exploiting their own people for personal gain. While the people of Gaza live under bombardment, Hamas leaders live in safety.

Eleven years ago, when three teenagers were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas operatives, the IDF launched Operation “Brother’s Keeper” to locate the teens and bring the murderers to justice. An Egyptian journalist commented: “You Israelis — you’re men! They kidnapped three children from you, and you went all out to bring them home, no matter the cost. Yet, he called the Hamas operatives barking dogs, hiding in their master’s house.”

This is not a war of heroism by Hamas. It is not a war of ideologies — unless murdering Jews is considered an ideology. This is a war of cowards.

Itamar Tzur is an Israeli scholar and Middle East expert who holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Jewish History and a Master’s degree with honors in Middle Eastern Studies. As a senior member of the “Forum Kedem for Middle Eastern Studies and Public Diplomacy,” Tzur leverages his academic expertise to enhance understanding of regional dynamics and historical contexts within the Middle East.