Far away from Gaza – Part 1

Israeli journalist Ohad Chemo, a fluent Arabic speaker traveled to Antwerp, Belgium to interview Gazans who left their homes to escape Hamas and build a new life. His dialogue with them reveals a contrast of ideas which you will not hear anywhere else, because no one else is reporting it. Well worth reading, the following has been translated from Arabic with Hebrew subtitles to English.

Ahmed, Jabaliya refugee living in Antwerp: We’ve been silent long enough. We need to be heard. The life of people is not a game and they shouldn’t have to depend upon others who determine their destiny.  We’re talking about Hamas.

Ohad Chemo, Interviewer: You’re not afraid to speak openly to an Israeli journalist?

Ahmed: No, you are the opponent on the other side. It’s the most logical thing for me to speak with you, otherwise how will we be able to come to a solution when we have a mutual problem?

Ohad: Fatigue and despair alongside courage and optimism – that’s the unique combination that brings Ahmed to sit and talk to me in the heart of Antwerp, Belgium and to break the barrier of silence that long exists in Gaza and her people, even if you live abroad, like Ahmed.

Ahmed: Here’s what’s not clear to me. Everyday, another senior Hamas leader is killed, right? So how long will Hamas continue hijacking the people?

Ohad: Gaza under Hamas is closed so we came here to Belgium.  Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of Gazans live here. The majority of them arrived before October 7. In fact, it’s difficult to manage in certain parts of the city without Arabic. There are migrants from Syria, Lebanon, North Africa, but mostly from Gaza and especially from Khan Yunis. Part of them work for Hamas, and others live in fear.

Mohammed, Refugee from Rafah: From my point of view, Hamas kidnapped two million people living in Gaza. They’re hostages. Anyone who tries to express an opinion or open their mouth on any subject will be immediately killed. They will also kill his entire family and anyone associated with them. That’s the situation.

Ohad: Nine months after signing the ceasefire agreement, the Gaza Strip is still hermetically closed. Almost 60% is controlled by the IDF. The rest is controlled by Hamas, who controls the people, which they see as their vital assets.  Because it’s important to speak to them freely, we had to come here to Europe to hear the voices who came from that area.

Mohammed: Tribal groups are working against Hamas. My tribe too, but all Palestinians need to work against them. Everyone of those two million! Because there are many left of Hamas. They exist solely because of money and weapons.

Ohad:  Mohammed escaped Gaza out of fear of Hamas, but he has another reason to fear for his life. He’s a Bedouin from Rafa, from the Tarabin Tribe (a tribe that cooperated with the IDF against Hamas), and he’s a relative of Yasser Abu Shabab who was the top leader of the insurgency. Although he’s dead, his militia exists and Mohammed supports them.

Ohad: Where can Hamas be found today?

Mohammed: In Gaza hospitals, specifically in the ultrasound or CT units for pregnant women. That is where they are hiding out.

(The next scene is Gazans shouting for Hamas to come out)

Ohad: Only recently have Gazans, living in Europe, tried to encourage those still living in Gaza to protest against Hamas. But it failed after Hamas threatened the hospital authorities, warning them not to participate, promising to exact revenge on anyone daring to protest. In the end, they dispersed those who came to demonstrate. Hamas is made up of people who don’t really care about living. They live to make war.

Mahmoud, refugee from Deir Al Balah, whose face is covered: They preach in their mosques and brainwash the people, telling them that they must fight and hate. So, from the beginning, I chose another path, realizing I had to leave Gaza and live abroad, because I can’t live in a place like Gaza.

Ohad: If your face was exposed, what would happen to your Gazan family?

Mahmoud: They would kill them. There is no value to human life in Gaza.  Their language is murder. They are cruel. They take all the extremism that exists and incorporate it into the culture as a way of life.

Ohad: It’s hard not to hear the hatred in Mahmoud’s voice. He has found a refuge in Europe, the farthest place from Hamas terror. Hamas disseminates hatred and the ideology of terror and murder. The hatred of Jews which has already existed for 1400 years.  

Mahmoud: How and why should we be part of this? The world has changed.

Ohad: But there are some things that haven’t changed in Gaza. For example, the abuse of citizens, using them as human shields. Ahmed told me this is routine.

Ahmed: Our neighbors found a refuge in our home. When I went outside my house, I saw an armed Hamas terrorist ready to launch missiles between my house and my neighbor’s.  

Ohad: How many were in your house?

Ahmed: 95 people. I told the Hamas operative, “What are you doing? There are 95 people here.” He said, “Don’t bother me.” “What do you mean don’t bother me? Take that away and out of here.” So, he went away. They caught me that same evening and roughed me up. I was told I was bothering them, bothering the activities of Hamas. I said, “I’m bothering them? Do you want 95 people to be killed?” He said, “We know full well what we are doing.”

Ohad: Israeli people would sincerely doubt everything you’re saying in light of October 7. They would say you were happy with what happened on October 7. You celebrated and today, after Gaza has been destroyed, you want peaceful co-existence?

Ahmed: When I saw the October 7 photos, I fell to the floor with my hand on my heart. I understood that Israel’s response would be deadly. Gaza would be decimated.  I said, “Why did Hamas do this?”

Ohad asks Mahmoud: What would Gazans say about October 7?

Mahmoud: They would tell you that it brought us destruction. But before you can speak about the destruction, you must say that this was not a humane act. To kill so many people within three hours and to kidnap women and children, that’s not humane. Only after that can you say it brought us destruction.

(to be continued… Part 2 on Wednesday)