Published: 24 October 2023
Last updated: 2 July 2025
The progressive West has become Hamas’s useful idiots
Calls to "end the war in Gaza" appear to represent what any decent person should want – an end to the bloodshed and destruction. If the war in Gaza ended right now, the threat of a regional war may be averted (for now), and Gazans and Israelis would focus on rebuilding.
Would this increase the prospect of further bloodshed and destruction in Israel and Gaza? Most likely. It would also be devastating for the people of Gaza, who are the longest-held captives of Hamas. Hamas and Hezbollah sympathisers around the world would be spurred into action, sensing their moment had arrived. Both of these movements have global aspirations.
In a recent speech to Australia’s House of Representatives, Greens leader Adam Bandt called for an end to war in Gaza, as did thousands of pro-Palestine protesters over the weekend. They didn’t call for the end of Hamas. This highlights the clash of values for some people – it’s difficult for them to separate Hamas from the Palestinian people.
The Greens Voice on Indigeneity
The Greens also voted against a motion recognising Israel’s right to defend itself. How could this most fundamental right be contentious? Only if you believe that Israel is entirely and fundamentally illegitimate. To do so, you need to deny Jewish indigeneity in the Land of Israel (as Hamas and the Palestinian Authority regularly do) and the UN Partition Plan, which recommended the establishment of the modern State of Israel. If one selectively respects indigeneity, then it is likely just thinly veiled prejudice. (As an aside, the Partition Plan was rejected by the Arab countries, including the Palestinian leadership – otherwise, a two-state solution would have been in place from 1948).
