Far away from Gaza – Part 2

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.

Ohad: Walks the streets of Antwerp and remarks at what he sees, saying, “Is all this Gaza?” Because every store has Arabic writing on it.  Every single business is Palestinian-owned, and it’s meant to feel as if you’re wandering around Palestine. Ohad goes into a Palestinian bakery where endless trays of baklava and Middle-Eastern treats are seen.  He asks the shop owner, “How many Gazans are here in Antwerp?”

Shop owner: A lot! Many of them opened businesses.

Ohad: It’s like Little Gaza in the heart of Antwerp. All of these shop owners come from Khan Younis. Even the names of every business reveal their origins.

Ohad to shop owner: Who should control Gaza?

Unnamed Gazan on the street: Hamas. We all were against Hamas. Now we say all Palestinians are Hamas. You know why? Because as long as Hamas exists, they protect the people.

Another unnamed Gazan joins in and expresses the opposite viewpoint.

Unnamed Gazan on the street: (contradicts what he said earlier) He says, “Hamas has taken humanitarian aid from the Gazan people and is willing to let them starve.” (Nonetheless, he seems to be a Hamas supporter).

A third Gazan weighs in: I want to tell you something. Netanyahu is the one who strengthened Hamas through the money he gave them – not Iran, Syria or anyone else. Suitcases filled with money came from Qatar into the Gaza Strip.

Ohad: Some of the people on the street don’t support Hamas but no one says it out loud, knowing there are Hamas supporters there in Antwerp who could harm them.

Ohad asks Gazan: Why did you leave Gaza?

Gazan: I left because of the blockade, the war and the suffering. I understood I could never realize my dreams, because there was no future there. I want my kids to live in peace. Living in Gaza is living under constant threat of Hamas or Israel.

Ohad: How many Gazans would like to leave Gaza if the borders were open?

Ahmed: If the borders were open, I promise you that no one would stay.

Another Gazan: Do I think Israel’s done enough to prevent another October 7? No, in another 10-15 years, a new generation will rise up and it will perpetrate another 17 or 27 October 7ths.

Ohad: The anti-Hamas voices are weakened in Gaza from the fear of the murderous terror group, but the strange thing is that they’re also weakened here in Antwerp, Europe – far away from Hamas.

Next scene: Locals wrapped in keffiyehs, marching on Antwerp city streets, with signs that read, “End the genocide.”

Mahmoud: These protesters support what’s going on in Gaza. They send money to Gaza and Hamas.

Ohad: Do you personally know of Hamas operatives who live in Europe?

Mahmoud: Absolutely. They have businesses, shops restaurants and all the money goes to Hamas and Gaza.

Ohad: Are there also operatives from Al Qassam? (military wing of Hamas) 

Mahmoud: Yes. Some have Belgium citizenship.

Another Gazan: The commander of a Hamas unit, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, has citizenship. They take up collections which local banks then transfer to Gaza. They also deal in drugs.

(Scene of red graffiti spray painted onto a structure in the heart of Antwerp says, “Hamas.” There are also pro-Hamas stickers everywhere, characterizing Israel as the enemy.)

Mahmoud: If Europe continues in this direction, they will be completely lost.  Everyone must wake up and do something, because all of these protesters are not necessarily Hamas. There are also those who are against freedom and democracy.

Ohad: Israel is negotiating with Lebanon and maybe Syria in the future. There’s a lack of trust amongst Israelis to have peaceful co-existence with you, the Palestinians.

Ahmed: We’ve always wanted Israel to control us. We never wanted to be self-governed, because we tried it with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. In all candor, I thank God that they (Israelis) are our neighbors. We need to learn from their knowledge and education.

Ohad: How many Gazans think like you?

Ahmed: I represent everyone in my age group, and I stand by every word I say (Ahmed appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s)

Ohad: Three years after October 7, there are Gazans who are saying something else and it’s worth our while to listen to them.

Ahmed: The time has come to end the conflict.

Ohad: How can the people’s mentality be changed?

Mahmoud: The mentality will change after the destruction of Hamas. Then a different education will be adopted, giving them a new lease on life rather than …virgins will await me when I die as a martyr. We won’t need to fight Jews anymore or worship impure idols. We need to learn how to be human and people of worth.

Ahmed: Is it logical that Hezbollah controls the destiny of an entire nation of people, causing their deaths? Two-thirds of the Lebanese want peace with Israel.

Ohad: Do two-thirds of Gazans also want peace with Israel?

Ahmed: Yes, they do. Only the leaders don’t.

Ohad: What does Israel need to do to get rid of Hamas?

Mahmoud: Let the Gazans leave, and give two options to whoever wants to stay – surrender so the war can end or fight and destroy them. Why continue to remain in this present situation? Everyday, people are being killed. If Hamas wants to die, so be it. They say victory or death. So go for it, but leave us alone. If they believe that way, okay, but I don’t. Don’t force me to fight and die for the sake of their ideology.

And that’s how it went. The conclusion is that the majority of those who have escaped Gaza are clear-eyed, knowing that Israel is not their enemy but merely trying to defend their right to live in peace on their land. Those voices are, indeed, worth hearing!

As far as the others, still committed to Israel’s demise, they are the real enemy who must be defeated if Middle East peace is ever to become a reality!