A Palestinian Explains Hamas | 5 Minute Video

Summary

In this video script, Bassem Eid addresses Palestinians, urging them not to be misled by Hamas. He argues that Hamas is responsible for their suffering, not Israel. Eid highlights the group's lies about evictions and the Al Aqsa Mosque, and criticizes their governance, which has led to poor living conditions in Gaza. He also accuses Hamas of stealing aid and using civilians as human shields. Eid emphasizes that Hamas's actions have hindered peace and that they prioritize their power over the well-being of Palestinians.

Takeaways

• 📢 The speaker implores Palestinians not to be misled by Hamas, stating it has not achieved anything for them.
• 🏹 Hamas is accused of causing suffering through initiating conflicts like the Gaza Wars in 2021, 2014, 2012, and 2008.
• 🏰 The speaker refutes Hamas's claims about Israeli evictions in Sheik Jarrah, clarifying that the residents were squatters.
• 🕌 The Al Aqsa Mosque is still standing, contrary to Hamas's allegations of Israeli plans to destroy it.
• 🔥 Hamas is portrayed as a criminal gang focused on power rather than social justice or the welfare of Palestinians.
• 💧 Hamas is blamed for poor living conditions in Gaza, including unsafe water, power outages, and sewage issues.
• 🚧 The imported cement for housing is said to be stolen by Hamas to build tunnels for military purposes.
• 🛑 Hamas is accused of diverting humanitarian aid to its elites and using it for profit on the black market.
• 🚀 Hamas uses civilians as human shields by placing military equipment in residential and public buildings.
• 🎯 Hamas's missile strategy is criticized for being indiscriminate and causing civilian casualties within Gaza.
• 🏠 The speaker points out that aid for rebuilding Gaza may not reach the intended recipients but rather Hamas leaders and their associates.

Q & A

What does the speaker claim about Hamas' actions during the Gaza Wars?

The speaker claims that Hamas has not achieved anything positive for the Palestinian people during the Gaza Wars of 2021, 2014, 2012, or 2008, and that these conflicts have been costly in terms of lives and resources.

How does the speaker describe Hamas' role in the Palestinian situation?

The speaker describes Hamas as a criminal gang that is primarily focused on increasing its own power and causing suffering to the Palestinian people, rather than being a social justice movement.

What does the speaker refute about the Israeli evictions in Sheik Jarrah?

The speaker refutes the claim that Israelis were evicting innocent Palestinians from their homes in Sheik Jarrah, stating that the people living in those homes were squatters who hadn't paid rent for decades.

According to the speaker, what is the truth about the Al Aqsa Mosque?

The speaker asserts that the claims of the Al Aqsa Mosque being destroyed by Israelis are false, as the mosque still stands and will continue to do so.

What does the speaker accuse Hamas of doing with humanitarian aid?

The speaker accuses Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid meant for the Palestinian people to its favored elites, who then sell it for profit on the black market.

How does the speaker contrast Hamas' and Israel's use of rockets?

The speaker contrasts the two by saying that Israel uses rockets to defend its people, while Hamas uses people to defend its rockets, implying that Hamas places its weapons among civilian populations.

What percentage of Hamas' rockets reportedly crashed within Gaza according to the speaker?

The speaker claims that up to 25 percent of all rockets launched by Hamas in May 2021 crashed within Gaza.

What does the speaker suggest about the outcome of the conflict for the people of Sheikh Jarrah?

The speaker suggests that the people living in the four buildings in Sheikh Jarrah will still eventually be evicted, despite the conflict, as they had sold the title to those buildings.

How does the speaker believe Hamas is affecting the possibility of peace in the region?

The speaker believes that Hamas is preventing the possibility of peace by setting up its military gang, lying to the people, and causing further suffering and homelessness.

What does the speaker think will happen to the funds offered by NGOs to rebuild Gaza?

The speaker thinks that the funds offered by NGOs to rebuild Gaza will not reach the people who need it, but instead will be used by Hamas leaders and their friends to enrich themselves.

Who is Bassem Eid and what is his message in the video script?

Bassem Eid is the speaker in the video script for Prager University. His message is a call for the Palestinian people not to believe Hamas' lies and to recognize that Hamas is the main cause of their suffering, not Israel.

Outlines

00:00

🏳️‍🌈 Hamas Deception and Gaza's Suffering

This paragraph addresses the Palestinian people and supporters, urging them not to be misled by Hamas. It argues that Hamas has not achieved anything positive for Palestinians, citing the Gaza Wars of 2021, 2014, 2012, and 2008 as catastrophic conflicts that have caused significant loss of life and resources. The paragraph emphasizes that Hamas is a criminal organization focused on increasing its own power, not a social justice movement. It refutes claims made by Hamas about Israeli actions in East Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque, stating these are lies. The paragraph also highlights the poor living conditions in Gaza, attributing them to Hamas' mismanagement rather than Israel. It accuses Hamas of stealing resources meant for the people, using them for tunnels and other military purposes, and using civilians as human shields. It concludes by pointing out that Hamas' actions lead to more suffering for Palestinians, including the risk of being killed by their own rockets, and that the funds meant for rebuilding Gaza often end up in the hands of Hamas leaders rather than the people.

05:04

🕊️ The Lost Chance for Gaza's Peace

The second paragraph continues the discussion on Hamas' impact on the lives of Palestinians, focusing on the lost opportunities for peace. It mentions the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and how Hamas' establishment as a military force at that time robbed Palestinians of a chance for peace. The paragraph asserts that no matter how many Israelis Hamas kills, it will never be satisfied or stop lying. It calls on the audience to stop believing Hamas' lies and to recognize the true cause of their suffering. The speaker, Bassem Eid, concludes by identifying himself and associating with Prager University, suggesting that the information presented is part of a broader educational effort.

Keywords

💡Hamas

Hamas is described in the video as a militant group that operates in Gaza. The script portrays it as a 'criminal gang' that prioritizes its own power over the well-being of the Palestinian people. Rather than fighting for social justice, Hamas is accused of causing destruction and chaos, using civilians as human shields, and diverting resources for its own benefit.

💡Palestinian people

The Palestinian people are the central group to whom the message is addressed. The video frames them as victims of Hamas’s manipulation and leadership, suffering from poor living conditions and misused humanitarian aid. The speaker encourages Palestinians to reject Hamas’s narrative and recognize its role in their suffering.

💡Israel

Israel is referenced in the video as the state frequently blamed by Hamas for Palestinian suffering. However, the script argues that Israel is not responsible for many of the hardships faced by Palestinians, such as poor infrastructure and governance in Gaza. Instead, the speaker claims that Hamas misleads Palestinians into blaming Israel for their woes.

💡Sheikh Jarrah

Sheikh Jarrah is mentioned in the context of a specific controversy where Hamas claims that Palestinians are being evicted from their homes by Israel. The script refutes this by stating that those being evicted are squatters who haven’t paid rent for decades, and that this narrative is used by Hamas to stir up conflict.

💡Al Aqsa Mosque

The Al Aqsa Mosque is referenced as a religious site that Hamas claimed Israel was planning to destroy, which the speaker describes as a lie. The mosque is still standing, and the script uses this example to highlight what it calls Hamas’s deceitful tactics to provoke violence.

💡Humanitarian aid

Humanitarian aid is mentioned as resources meant to help the Palestinian people, which, according to the video, is often diverted by Hamas to its own elites or used to fund its military efforts. The mismanagement of aid is used as an example of Hamas’s corruption and failure to govern effectively.

💡Missiles

Missiles refer to the rockets fired by Hamas into Israel, often without specific targets, according to the script. The video claims that many of these rockets malfunction and land in Gaza, killing Palestinians, and that Hamas falsely blames Israel for these deaths. This is used to demonstrate Hamas's reckless behavior.

💡Gaza

Gaza is the region controlled by Hamas where many Palestinians live under difficult conditions. The script highlights Gaza’s poor infrastructure, including unsafe water and power outages, blaming Hamas’s leadership for these problems rather than Israel.

💡Fatah

Fatah is the political party mentioned as a rival to Hamas in the script. While also seen as corrupt, Fatah is portrayed as less dangerous compared to Hamas, which the speaker accuses of being the source of Gaza’s problems by pursuing violent conflict instead of governance.

💡Peace

Peace is portrayed as an elusive goal for Palestinians, one that could have been achieved after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. However, the script claims that Hamas has consistently sabotaged this opportunity by prioritizing conflict over peaceful governance.

Highlights

Hamas is accused of not achieving anything positive for the Palestinian people.

The Gaza Wars of 2021, 2014, 2012, and 2008 are described as pointless conflicts causing significant loss of life and resources.

Hamas is portrayed as a criminal gang focused on increasing its own power rather than caring for the Palestinian people.

The speaker argues that Israel is not the main cause of Palestinian suffering, but rather Hamas is.

Hamas is accused of leading Palestinians into disaster with false claims about evictions in East Jerusalem.

The claim that Israel planned to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque is refuted, stating the mosque remains intact.

Hamas is criticized for its inability and lack of desire to govern, leading to poor living conditions in Gaza.

The speaker alleges that Hamas diverts humanitarian aid and uses it for personal profit.

Hamas is accused of using civilians as human shields by placing weapons in residential areas.

The strategy of Hamas is described as firing missiles indiscriminately into highly populated regions of Israel.

It is claimed that up to 25% of Hamas' rockets launched in May 2021 crashed within Gaza, killing civilians.

Hamas is accused of not caring about the well-being of Palestinians, including those living in Israel.

The speaker argues that the evictions in Sheikh Jarrah were inevitable and that Hamas' actions led to more displacement.

The potential misuse of reconstruction funds for Gaza by Hamas leaders is highlighted.

The peace process is said to be further out of reach due to Hamas' actions, despite Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.

The speaker concludes by urging Palestinians not to believe Hamas' lies and to recognize the true nature of the organization.

Transcripts

To my Palestinian brothers and sisters,  

and to anyone who supports the  Palestinian people, I implore you: 

Please do not let Hamas brainwash you into  thinking it has "achieved" anything on our behalf.

It hasn't.

Not in the Gaza Wars of 2021, 2014, 2012, or 2008. 

Each one of these pointless  conflicts has been a catastrophe,  

costing us dearly in lives and treasure. 

Hamas is not a social justice movement,  

and it certainly does not care  about the Palestinian people. 

It is a criminal gang that only cares  about increasing its own power.  

Israel is not the main cause of your suffering.

Hamas is the main cause. 

Israel is not your jailer. 

Hamas is. 

It was Hamas that led you into  this most recent disaster. 

They told you that the Israelis were evicting  innocent Palestinians from their homes  

in the Sheik Jarrah area of East Jerusalem. 

This is a lie. 

The people living in those homes  weren't tenants; they were squatters.  

They hadn't paid rent for decades.

They told you that the Israelis  planned to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque. 

This, too, is a lie.

The mosque is still there. It will be there  tomorrow. Say what you want about the Israelis,  

they are not stupid. They know that if  they actually attempt to destroy Al Aqsa,  

it would lead to war with every Muslim country.

Yes, Hamas takes action and thus  looks strong next to its rival,  

the corrupt Fatah party. But the only  action it takes is to lead us into chaos. 

Hamas has no ability—and, in  fact, no desire—to govern.

The water isn't safe to drink; the  power goes out for hours at a time;  

raw sewage washes up on your beaches.  The Israelis are not responsible  

for these dismal failures—Hamas  is. And everybody in Gaza knows it. 

It is Hamas that steals the imported cement  meant to build houses for you and uses  

it instead to build a massive network of tunnels  from which it hopes to terrorize Israelis.  

It is Hamas that makes sure humanitarian  aid meant for you is diverted to its favored  

elites who then sell it for a  profit on the black market. 

And it is Hamas that uses you as human shields,  stationing rocket launchers and missile  

arsenals in your apartments, office  buildings, schools, and even hospitals.

Israel uses rockets to defend its people.  Hamas uses people to defend its rockets.

As for its war strategy, Hamas doesn't have one.  It fires missiles at the most highly populated  

regions of Israel, with no specific target.  Yet, I know from my sources in Gaza that as  

much as 25 percent of all rockets launched  by Hamas in May 2021 crashed within Gaza.  

Fifty Gaza civilians were killed by these  rockets, their deaths falsely blamed on Israel.

Are you aware of the fact that some of the Hamas  missiles that Israeli Defense Forces failed to  

intercept ended up exploding in places like Jaffa,  Abu Ghosh, and Lod—where Arab Israelis live?  

Palestinians living in Israel are as  likely to be killed as Israelis themselves.

Hamas couldn't care less.

And what was gained?

Palestinians living in those four buildings in  Sheikh Jarrah will still eventually be evicted,  

a fact that has been known to those families  since they sold away the title to those buildings.

Think about the even greater number  of Palestinians who are now homeless  

in Gaza because Hamas chose to hide  weapons in residential buildings.

And when naïve American and European NGO's offer  millions to "rebuild Gaza" who do you think will  

get that money? It won't be you—the people who  really deserve it and need it—it will be the  

leaders of the Hamas gang and their friends who  will add new rooms to their fancy villas rather  

than rebuild homes, purchase coronavirus vaccines,  or provide social services for their people.

And the peace you so deserve, the peace which  could have been possible when Israel withdrew  

entirely from the Gaza Strip in 2005 will be  even further out of reach. Hamas robbed you  

of that chance when it set up its military gang  then. It's robbing you of the same chance now.

No matter how many Jews it manages to  kill, Hamas will never be satisfied.

It will never stop lying.

But you can stop believing its lies.

I'm Bassem Eid for Prager University.