FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Every Black Life Matters Condemns Hamas for Kidnapping Civilians and Neglecting the People of Gaza
[Boise, ID, Oct 9, 2023] Every Black Life Matters today condemned Hamas for kidnapping Israeli civilians and neglecting the people of Gaza.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization that does not even care about it’s own people,” said President Kevin McGary. “This kidnapping is just the latest example of Hamas’s commitment to violence and destruction. This needs to stop. Hamas knows they cannot ever win against Israel, this is not about land, it is just about revenge. Nobody wins with revenge. EBLM knows from the black experience, that the only way both sides can prosper is through reconciliation and forgiveness and thus peace.”
EVP Neil Mammen, grew up in the Middle East with Palestinians and worked in Silicon Valley. He has never heard any of his Palestinian friends ever note how any of the terrorist organizations have actually helped the Palestinians. Many of them have disdain for Hamas and say Hamas does not represent them.
“The concept of liberty and inalienable rights is never considered by Hamas,” Mammen said. “Hamas’s leaders have become multi-millionaires while the Palestinian people they claim to represent continue to suffer. In addition to its kidnapping and killing of Israeli civilians, Hamas has also neglected the people of Gaza. We have quotes from Palestinians saying that the group has spent billions on weapons, while the people of Gaza live in poverty and squalor. According to the World Bank, over 60% of the population of Gaza lives below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is over 50%. If there was peace and prosperity in Gaza, Hamas would have no power. So, there’s nothing for Hamas in a peaceful solution. In truth this attack is just a way for Hamas to get more funding from Silicon Valley, which is its 2nd greatest source of funding, after Iran.”
Mammen continued, “The sad fact is that none of this is needed, the cost of living in Israel is far higher than Gaza. So, Gaza and the Palestinian Territories could be the greatest source of lower cost manufacturing for Israel with Israel’s rapidly growing technology sector and growing manufacturing demands. If the Palestinians would kick out Hamas and Hezbollah and invite manufacturers into the area, the economy would grow incredibly fast and the beautiful Palestinian people would have peace and prosperity. But if this happened, the terror organizations would have no power or reason to exist. It’s time for America to find, educate, support and protect those Palestinians who want to make that a reality. As much pain that it will cause the Israelies, the people of Gaza will suffer more from this action than anyone else. But Hamas wants that pain to fuel more anger so they stay in power.”
Lonnie Poindexter, Director of Every Black Life Matters, noted that the Hamas kidnapping was likely funded by American tax dollars, through the billions that the US gives to Iran and Hamas.
“The American people are tired of their tax dollars being used to fund terrorism,” Poindexter said. “We call on the Biden administration and congress to immediately cut off all funding to Iran and Hamas.”
Every Black Life Matters stands in solidarity with the people of Israel and condemns Hamas’s cowardly act of terrorism. We urge the Biden administration to take immediate action to stop Hamas and other terrorist organizations from harming innocent people.
Call to Action
Every Black Life Matters calls on the international community to pressure Hamas to release the Israeli hostages and improve the lives of the people of Gaza.
We urge the following actions.
- Ask Congress to announce that if a single US Citizen is killed or harmed or kidnapped, it will be seen as a declaration of war against the US and the US will bring its mighty army to find the Hamas leadership and destroy them. This is the Army’s purpose, to protect and preserve American lives
- Ask American Charities and not the taxpayers to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, while ensuring that the aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas. If the government allocates money it will go to Hamas and other cronies.
- Ask large American companies to put their money where there mouth is and work to improve the lives of the people of Gaza by promoting economic development and creating jobs and starting manufacturing, development and research in the area.
- Condemn Hamas’s kidnapping of Israeli civilians and its neglect of the people of Gaza.
- Demand that Hamas release the Israeli hostages immediately and unconditionally.
We believe that all people have the right to live in peace and security. Hamas’s kidnapping of Israeli civilians and its neglect of the people of Gaza are a violation of these rights.
More Detailed Accounts of Hamas’s Kidnapping of Israeli Civilians and Its Neglect of the People of Gaza
Hamas is a terrorist organization that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The group has a long history of violence against Israeli civilians, including kidnapping and murder.
In June 2023, Hamas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, during a cross-border raid. The group has also held captive two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, since 2014.
Hamas has refused to release the Israeli hostages, even in exchange for a prisoner swap. The group has also refused to provide any information about the condition of the hostages.
Statistics on the Number of Israeli Civilians Being Held Captive by Hamas and the Number of Palestinians Living in Poverty in Gaza
- 4 Israeli civilians are being held captive by Hamas
- 60% of the population of Gaza lives below the poverty line
- The unemployment rate in Gaza is over 50%
Quotes from Victims of Hamas’s Kidnapping and Neglect
- “I am worried sick about my son, Oron,” said Anat Shaul, the mother of captured Israeli soldier Oron Shaul. “I don’t know if he is alive or dead. I just want him to come home.”
- “Hamas is a terrorist organization that doesn’t care about the people of Gaza,” said Mohammed al-Masri, a resident of Gaza. “They have spent billions of dollars on weapons and tunnels, while the people of Gaza live in poverty and squalor.”
