12/15/2023–|Last updated: 12/15/202303:21 PM (Mecca time)
Occupied Jerusalem – The Israeli orientalist Mordechai Kedar, a lecturer at the Israeli Bar-Ilan University, said that the strength of the elements of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) lies in the doctrine, understanding and belief that they are fighting for the sake of God, pointing out that the criteria for victory for the movement and the Israelis are different, so victory will be its ally and the ally of the Palestinians in Gaza. .
Kedar pointed out that Israeli society compares one soldier to another in battle, while the true story of Hamas is that even if one fighter remains with his hand and foot cut off and only two fingers remaining on his other hand, he will stand on a destroyed mosque and raise the victory sign and will be victorious.
Kedar pointed out – in a television interview on Israeli Channel 14 – that the meaning of survival and steadfastness differs between the two sides of the conflict, saying, “They are waving the victory sign, because they remained alive and survived the war. This is the image of victory. It is a different way of thinking, so this is it.” The image of victory for them, we must say and we must understand this is another doctrine, another thinking, and other different criteria between victory and defeat.”
“They are jihad fighters… God be with them”… An Israeli researcher talks about the mentality of Al-Qassam fighters during the war#Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/AQzQ1C8w8K
– Tel Aviv Tribune Channel (@AJArabic) December 14, 2023
The religious component
In response to Kedar, a researcher in Arab and Islamic culture who served for 25 years in the Israeli Military Intelligence Division, to the channel’s question about those who “surrender” and throw away their weapons from Hamas, he replied, “How many surrendered, and how many remained inside the tunnels? Tell me, thousands of them are fighting.” “The story is not what we see today. They are in Hamas looking to the future.”
In response to the broadcaster’s question that “the Jews also look to the future and they are the chosen and immortal people of God,” Kedar answered, “Will the Americans support Israel forever? Will Europe support you forever? Will Israeli society support us forever? These are important questions.”
The Israeli orientalist believes that the religious and ideological component is a very important element in the fighting between Hamas and the Israeli army, saying, “There is a verse in the Qur’an that says that God is with those who are patient. This means that they believe that God is with those who have the ability to be patient for a long time. Our understanding of the term patience is in The Hebrew language is completely different. In fact, there is no word for patience in Hebrew.
Kedar cited the concept of patience in Islam and Hamas, saying, “Patience is being in a tunnel for two or three months, not seeing the light of day, with difficulty finding food, going out, drawing a Kalashnikov rifle, and killing the Jews. Why, because he has the ability to be patient for a long time.”
Israeli bubble
In response to a question about what he said about the imbalance in the standards of faith, beliefs, and patience in fighting, that is, the defeat of Hamas or the surrender of its fighters is inspired by the Israeli imagination and has no relation to reality, Kedar replied, “The Israelis live inside the Israeli bubble, while they live for God.. God is with them.. They are jihad fighters.. We are Israel’s freedom fighters.”
He added, “One day I had a discussion with Minister Tzipi Livni (former Foreign Minister), and I told her that the religious structure here is dominant among them (the Palestinians). For them, they fight for the sake of God. For them, God is the main element in the conflict.”
He added, “While we have God, if he is present on the field at all, he will be a reserve player. This is a huge difference in terms of psychological, societal, and physical abilities, which are abilities that have an impact and consequences on faith and beliefs.”
Kedar concluded his speech by saying, “The ability they (Hamas) have to believe and adhere to the doctrine is enormous and great. I am not saying that our ability is less important. They are waging a religious war, but among us, and at least a large part of us, the religious belief in war does not exist.”