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Dotan Rousso

A Threat to the West, Not Just Israel

On January 19, 2025, Israel and Hamas implemented a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange deal. This agreement includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages—comprising infants, children, women, and men over the age of 50—over a 42-day period, in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, the deal follows 15 months of brutal conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023. While this development offers a glimmer of relief, it compels us to reflect on the deeper reasons this war began.

After 465 days of war between Israel and Hamas, the ceasefire should prompt us to reconsider why this conflict erupted in the first place. On October 7th, Hamas launched an unprovoked and horrific terror attack, claiming the lives of over 1,400 people, most of them innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Entire families were massacred, towns were turned into charnel houses, and hostages, including young children, were abducted and paraded through Gaza as trophies. This barbarity was not an aberration; it was a chilling manifestation of Hamas’ ideology.

Hamas, rooted in radical Islamic extremism, does not merely target Israel—it embodies a worldview that glorifies death and destruction. Its charter explicitly calls for the annihilation of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state in its place. More chillingly, its leaders have publicly praised “martyrdom,” glorifying not just the killing of perceived enemies but also the sacrifice of their own people. The deliberate use of human shields, the embedding of military infrastructure within civilian areas, and the indoctrination of children into a culture of hatred are all stark reminders of the moral abyss Hamas operates within.

But Hamas is not alone. Its ideology finds resonance in other radical Islamist groups, from ISIS to Al-Qaeda, which share a common goal: the destruction of Western values, freedom, and democracy. These groups view the West not merely as political adversaries but as existential threats to their vision of a theocratic, authoritarian world order.

Israel, in this context, stands on the front lines of a much larger battle. The Jewish state is not only defending its citizens but also serving as a bulwark against the encroachment of radical evil. The atrocities committed by Hamas are a harbinger of what the West could face if it fails to recognize the gravity of the threat. Just as the world united to combat ISIS, it must now rally to confront the menace of radical Islamism, which endangers not only Israel but the entire free world.

This war is not simply about territorial disputes or political grievances. It is a clash of civilizations, pitting the values of life, liberty, and human dignity against a death cult that venerates violence and chaos. Israel’s struggle is a moral imperative, not just for its survival but for the preservation of the principles that underpin modern civilization.

As the West watches from a distance, it must confront an uncomfortable truth: the ideology driving Hamas is not confined to Gaza. It festers in radicalized networks across the globe, waiting for opportunities to strike. The fight against this ideology is not Israel’s alone; it is a shared responsibility.

The ceasefire may bring temporary respite, but the ideological war rages on. The West must not be lulled into complacency. It must support Israel, recognizing that its fight is our fight for the fundamental rights that define our humanity.

Comments: dotanrousso@yahoo.com

About the Author
Dotan Rousso, Holds a Ph.D. in Law—a former criminal prosecutor in Israel. He currently lives in Alberta and teaches Philosophy at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).