The Palestinians should not be treated as "victims"

There is a tendency among many people in the West, even among pro-Israeli/people who are not pro-Palestinian, to look at the Palestinians as the model victims and clear them of responsibility. For example, when they say that ''Hamas is the disaster of the Palestinian people'', when they talk about the Palestinians as the real victim of the war or when they talk about Hamas as a foreign entity that happens to control Gaza. This is simply not the case and ignoring it is almost dangerous

Even on October 7, there were many smart, pro-Israeli people whom I appreciate, who said that the real victims are the Palestinians who are being dragged by Hamas. No, that's not true. It is to clear the Palestinians of responsibility. The Palestinians are mature people who are able to take responsibility and take action themselves.

The victims are residents of Israel and the Palestinians are not ignorant children who are not aware of what they are doing. They are aware, and they just make their choice. They are neither victims nor poor. That's why it's very annoying to read smart people who talk about Hamas and the Palestinian people as separate entities: the Palestinians are the real victims (and not Israelis, God forbid) who are dragged by Hamas - they are not responsible people who mostly supported Hamas. There is also disdain for the Palestinians - in that they are not able to choose for themselves. In short, let's stop treating Palestinians as victims. Because they really aren't

This whole section of always worrying that the Palestinians will be poor victims without responsibility for their actions must stop, it has been part of the conduct of this national movement for almost 100 years