Jake Wallis Simons Jake Wallis Simons

Why are Jews being blamed for Hamas’s attack on Israel?

Iranians gather in Tehran to celebrate Hamas's invasion (Credit: Getty images)

‘Victim blaming’ is one of the sins that is most deplored by the social justice movement. When it comes to the Jews, however, different rules seem to apply, at least when it comes to rape, murder and mutilation.

The events of the past few days could not have been more clear-cut. This was an unprovoked assault by Islamist fanatics who rampaged across southern Israel, revelling in savagery against the innocent. The atrocities you have seen on television have been the tip of the iceberg. Women have been butchered, their bodies paraded and desecrated, while grandmothers have been kidnapped with their carers and executed. Families have been gunned down in bomb shelters. Babies and children have been dragged away into captivity in Gaza. There has been at least one apparent beheading. Israeli forces were caught napping. Yet the tone of some of the coverage has suggested that the Jews deserved it.

Make no mistake: this was the killing of Jews because they were Jews

Across the west, meanwhile, the response has been a carnival of Israelophobia.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in