Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The world watches, debates, and protests, yet one undeniable truth remains—Israel’s military response was a direct consequence of Hamas’ actions, not an unprovoked offensive. If Hamas had never taken civilian hostages, none of this would be happening. If Hamas had released those hostages immediately, the retaliation would have stopped. And yet, instead of focusing on the root cause—the hostage crisis—critics choose to condemn Israel’s response while refusing to acknowledge the current cycle that Hamas initiated.
The question is simple: If your loved ones were the ones held hostage, would you still preach restraint? Would you still demand no retaliation? Would you sit back and remain neutral while terrorists refuse to release them?
Hamas Started It—Why Is Israel The Only One Being Blamed?
From the moment Hamas kidnapped innocent civilians, the situation was set into motion. Israel did not strike first—Hamas did. Israel did not take hostages—Hamas did. Israel did not force a war—it was dragged into one. Yet, in global discourse, the blame falls disproportionately onto Israel’s retaliation, while Hamas’ original crime is ignored or excused.
Where are the voices demanding Hamas release every hostage immediately? Why is the conversation focused more on Israel’s actions rather than the terrorist group that initiated the crisis? The double standard is blatant, and it shows how political bias twists narratives beyond reason.
Would those protesting against Israel’s retaliation remain silent if their own family members were taken? Would they still condemn military action if they personally suffered the terror of hostage-taking? The hypocrisy is staggering.
Music, Art, Sports, and Education Are Not Political Battlefields
What’s even more troubling is how geopolitical agendas are creeping into industries that should remain independent—art, sports, music, and education.
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael placed second in Eurovision 2025, but her journey was riddled with hostility from pro-Palestinian activists who wanted to prevent her from participating at all. These protests were not about music, they were about political interference in a space that should be free of it. She earned her spot through talent, not politics, yet agitators aimed to block her career simply because she is Israeli.
The same pattern appears in sports, where Israeli athletes have faced boycotts, protests, and exclusion from international events. Education, too, has become a battleground for ideological warfare, as students and scholars face discrimination based on nationality rather than merit.
It begs the question—where does this end? Should an artist’s dreams be crushed because of a government’s foreign policy? Should an athlete be barred from competition simply because their country is embroiled in conflict? If geopolitical agendas dictate artistic careers, educational opportunities, and sports participation, we are erasing the very essence of creativity and human ambition.
The Reality These Protesters Ignore
It’s easy to shout slogans, carry banners, and join protest movements from a safe distance. But what would happen if these same activists were personally affected? If Hamas took their loved ones as hostages, would they still condemn retaliation? Would they still call for Israel to “stand down”? Or would they demand immediate action to save their family?
The moment personal stakes enter the picture, moral grandstanding vanishes. The truth is, no sane person would sit back and watch their relatives remain hostages while terrorists dictate their fate. Israel is defending its citizens, the same way any nation would in this situation. Condemning Israel while giving Hamas a free pass to keep civilians captive is not a moral stance—it’s an insult to logic.
One of the most underestimated yet powerful forces in shaping the global narrative on Israel and Hamas is media bias. Headlines focus intensely on Israeli airstrikes and civilian casualties, often framing them without mentioning Hamas’ provocation, making it seem as if Israel is acting without cause or restraint. Reports amplify the destruction in Gaza, yet downplay Hamas’ October 7 attack, the mass hostage-taking, and the group’s tactics of embedding themselves within civilian areas to use human shields. The result is a skewed portrayal, where Hamas’ role as instigator fades, and Israel’s retaliation is painted as disproportionate aggression. Even in coverage of hostages, news outlets tend to center discussions on Israel’s military response rather than Hamas’ refusal to release innocent captives—an omission that twists the reality of who is perpetuating the crisis. This selective reporting isn’t accidental—it influences public sentiment, drives political pressure against Israel, fuels mass protests, and even impacts artists, athletes, and public figures facing discrimination simply for their nationality. The imbalance in media narratives has tangible consequences—when only one side of the conflict is scrutinized, while the other escapes accountability, global opinion becomes distorted, diplomatic decisions are influenced by misinformation, and justice itself is compromised. The world must demand full and unbiased reporting, ensuring both Hamas’ crimes and Israel’s actions are presented equally, because unless the complete truth is exposed, political interference, misplaced outrage, and ideological distortion will continue to dictate public discourse rather than facts.
Final Thoughts: Justice Begins With Releasing Hostages, Not Protest Theater
Before condemning Israel, the world should demand Hamas release every hostage immediately. Before disrupting the careers of artists and athletes, the world should acknowledge who started the conflict in the first place.
Protests may generate headlines, but real justice begins with action—not selective outrage. It’s time for agitators to step back from their ideological theater and ask themselves the only question that truly matters: if your loved ones were the hostages, would you still side with Hamas?
