What happened in Israel is not about Palestine. 

Every innocent life lost on both the Israeli and Palestinian fronts is tragic. Right now, however, is not the time to discuss so-called territorial disputes. Whether you agree with the current lay of the land or not is a different story. Israel is a nation and deserves every right to nationhood. Whatever the case may be, right now, it is time to focus on the horrific attacks perpetrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas, and the blatant antisemitism infiltrating politics, culture, and social media.

When Hamas executed a surprise attack on Oct. 7 against Israel, citizens and governments from around the world watched in horror, yet some barely acknowledged it before moving onto pro-Palestine rhetoric. 

“I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib said in an Oct. 8 press release. “The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.”

Innocent people continue to fall victim to violence in the region. One of the most notable and sparking significant divisions occurred when a blast hit a hospital in Gaza. Some, like Tlaib, continue to blame Israel, while others such as her party’s leader, President Joe Biden, with the help of the National Security Council, stated that Israel did not cause the hospital blast. Even amidst these assessments, some like Tlaib remain adamant in their beliefs.

“This debate should not distract us from the urgent need for a ceasefire to save innocent civilian lives,” Tlaib said in a press release.

What this debate shouldn’t do is call for a ceasefire. Tlaib is out of line with both her rhetoric and policies. This only ends in one of two ways: Israel defeats Hamas and sends them to the ash heap of history or Hamas wins, destroys Israel, and leads to greater danger both in the Middle East and abroad. A win for Hamas is not a win for Palestine. 

This war is more than just a physical one. The ideological battle engulfing this situation is just as significant as the actual war being fought. 

“London police said on Friday they had recorded a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were up 140% in the wake of the attack by Hamas on Israel,” according to Reuters.

We must never be so arrogant to think that history can’t repeat itself. The events that took place 78 years ago, in which 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis, must remain at the fronts of our minds and hearts. 1 death was too many. We can never let something so heinous and cruel wreak havoc on our earth again.

The world is so much more accepting, right? Wrong. Antisemitism remains a dangerous concern. University students continue to post in support of freeing Palestine. Celebrities like climate activist Greta Thunberg are rallying for Palestine. Members of congress are echoing these sentiments.

Antisemitism should never be tolerated. We must remain on guard and vigilant against remarks such as those against our Jewish brothers and sisters. In the same regard, we must protect against anti-Muslim hate as well. Hate on the other side must be acknowledged and dealt with accordingly. Hamas is the real enemy.

War is odd in the fact that it both divides and unites. It divides two sides against each other in a battle to win the war, but it unites in the sense of bringing people together. People from all different nations came together to “stand with Israel” and show unwavering support. From government buildings lit blue to supportive messages on X and generous support from governments, war brings people together. There is a lot of hate in the world, and it mustn’t go unnoticed, but there is also a lot of good in it too. Israel will get through this, but it will take all of us doing our part to ensure that Israel wins, Hamas is sent to the coffin, and that as many innocent lives on both sides are saved.