Efforts to reframe groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as “freedom fighters” distort reality and dangerously legitimize acts of terror. These groups, far from advocating for liberation or human rights, are driven by violent ideologies seeking the annihilation of the State of Israel and the perpetuation of conflict. Equating their actions with legitimate struggles for freedom is a grave error and a serious threat to global security.
The notion that terrorists can be considered freedom fighters often stems from a biased, anti-Zionist narrative that falsely portrays Jews as colonial oppressors in a fabricated “State of Palestine.” This narrative disregards the Jewish people’s historical and legal connection to Israel, affirmed by international rulings such as the British Mandate and the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947. By promoting this falsehood, advocates offer moral cover for terrorist organizations to commit atrocities while simultaneously undermining Israel’s legitimacy.
Radical movements in Western societies often reinforce this distortion, miscasting the weak as inherently virtuous and victimized. By this worldview, Hamas and Hezbollah are romanticized as resistance movements, and their violence is celebrated as a struggle for liberation. This rhetoric blatantly ignores these groups’ explicit goals and their brutal methods.
The goals of terrorists: Annihilation, not liberation
Genuine freedom fighters advocate for self-determination and justice, exemplified by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, who led peaceful resistance against British colonial rule in India. By contrast, the objectives of Hamas and Hezbollah are rooted in hatred and destruction.
Hamas’ charter explicitly calls for jihad against Israel and rejects any recognition of the Jewish state. It states, “Israel will rise and continue to exist until Islam obliterates it.” This is not a call for coexistence or reconciliation by any stretch; it is an obvious endorsement of genocide.
Hezbollah, as a proxy of Iran, prioritizes Iran’s agenda rather than Lebanon’s sovereignty. In Lebanon, Hezbollah’s critics often face intimidation, imprisonment or even assassination. For Israel, its primary objective is the eradication of our nation, as demonstrated by repeated acts of aggression and rejection of peace initiatives.
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The methods used by Hamas and Hezbollah further set them apart from any genuine freedom fighters. Polish-Israeli historian Prof. Benzion Netanyahu outlined three critical distinctions. Firstly, in target selection. Freedom fighters direct their actions against military forces occupying their homeland, while terrorists deliberately target civilians to instill fear. Hamas’ indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli towns and Hezbollah’s cross-border incursions epitomize this tactic, secondly by rejecting diplomacy.
Amir AviviPhoto: Daniel StravoSecondly, both groups have rejected diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their refusal to accept peace proposals that acknowledge Israel’s existence emphasizes their destructive goals.
Thirdly, through propaganda and deception. These groups manipulate media narratives to gain sympathy. By embedding military operations in civilian areas, they cause high casualties and have blamed Israel for the resulting devastation. This cynical strategy does nothing but exploit the very people they claim to defend.
Portraying Hamas and Hezbollah as liberators undermines efforts to combat terrorism and emboldens their violence. It is essential to expose their true nature instead. They are not defenders of oppressed peoples. Rather, they are purveyors of hate and volatility.
At the same time, the international community must address the broader factors that have allowed these groups to thrive. Iran’s financial and military support fuels their operations, while weak governance in Lebanon and Gaza enables their entrenchment. A unified global effort is required to cut off funding, enforce sanctions, and support regional stability.