I read an op-ed on All Israel News‘ website a couple days ago that addressed a question I have wrestled with since October 7: Are there any anti-Hamas Gazans and, if so, can they be trusted?

Before I share that very informative op-ed, let me set the stage for my wonderment. When I lead trips to Israel, we purposefully go into the “West Bank” (aka Judea and Samaria, the Biblical name). Not only is it the heartland of the Bible, but it has long intrigued me that Jews, Arabs and Palestinians can live and work peacefully side-by-side while some Palestinians seem hellbent on destroying Israel.

“How can that be?” I have asked. Then I would see it with my own eyes as we toured Jewish-owned factories with Arab and Palestinians mingling with Jews. Many of those factories have high-ranking Arab and Palestinian managers and even executives. I have heard live accounts from Arabs and Palestinians alike, extolling appreciation for their jobs and the people they work with and work for. Some of the companies even close down for a week and take their entire staff…Jews, Arabs and Palestinians…on a vacation trip together. It is unbelievable.

So, when I saw video footage of Gazan citizens (Palestinians) cheering wildly as dead or tortured Israeli captives were dragged through the streets of Gaza City or Khan Younis, I was appalled. When I realized that some Gazans were allowed to cross the border each day to go to work in neighboring kibbutzim…and in fact, provided maps and details of where Hamas should attack, I was confounded.

How can there be such contrast between Palestinians who happily live and work with Jews and those who wish to slaughter them? Are those in the factories simply play-acting? Are Palestinians in Gaza different than those in the West Bank?

I am not prepared to throw all Palestinians into the same category, but I find it dreadfully difficult to consider what was done on October 7, and what was found following, to be anywhere close to acceptable. During the massacre, hundreds of thousands of Gazan Palestinians took to the streets to cheer and cajole Hamas as they dragged Jews (dead or alive) behind vehicles. Add to that, when the IDF began their door-to-door campaign to root out the terrorists, what they found in virtually every home was Nazi propaganda and children’s books filled with images of young Palestinian children dressed in Hamas gear and carrying make-believe weapons. Gaza’s children are trained from birth to hate Jews and kill them if there is ever a chance.

Now, some residents of Gaza are protesting (or at least appear to be) against Hamas. Are they truly fed up with dictatorial, death-loving, demon-possessed leadership, or is it a ploy to convince the West they are different than previous behavior and what was discovered in their homes? What better time to propagandize than when Trump is in the Middle East negotiating peace deals!

Cookie Schwaeber-Issan, a frequent guest columnist for All Israel News, states her position very clearly. Check it out and consider where you stand on the issue:

To be absolutely fair, I agree with Cookie in general. However, I also know some of the most hospitable and kind Palestinians one can ever wish to meet. They know Jesus and proudly call Him Lord. Jesus makes all the difference!