Ann - HAMAS - is Not the Genocide Creator

On October 7, 2023, Hamas led forces didn’t “respond” to anything, on the contrary they crossed into Israel to murder civilians and kidnap people from their homes and a music festival.

The words above are the beginning of Ann Isabel’s response (on Medium) to my review of Plestia Alaqad’s recently (2025) published book: THE EYES OF GAZA: A Diary of Resilience

https://medium.com/@marxgeo/the-eyes-of-gaza-read-it-please-dddc23fc8878

I would Not seek to convince anyone with beliefs such as hers/yours of my perspective, nor would I respond to her (Medium) blog.   If she/you should want to respectfully write something together, sharing what we agree on, and explicitly stating what/why we disagree, or simply dialogue, my email address is my last name, followed by the first three letters of my first name and it’s within “gmail”.

I am trying to help push for a SF Bay Area showing of the documentary Holding Liat –

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holding_Liat - after hearing Joel and Yehuda Beinin interviewed recently by Peter Beinart.   They are featured in this film.    If anyone would have a clear path towards expressing the words of Ann Isabel, it would be Yehuda Beinin.   He moved to Israel in 1973.   His daughter was held hostage by Hamas from October 7^th, for 54 days before she was released.   When Liat Beinin Atzili was released, The Beinin-Atzili family learned that Aviv Atzili, Liat’s husband had died (being taken hostage on the Kibbutz along with Liat).

Yehuda Beinin indicated, when interviewed by Beinart, that what had happened was a direct result of Israeli governmental leadership/policy over the long-term.   He indicated that Liat had indicated that she had been treated well as a hostage.

For those, both not convinced of my perspective, but also not - “sure of the truth” (my words) such as Ann Isabel seems to be an example of, I’ll suggest the following resources:

A.)- https://www.georgemarx.org/2022/12/palestine-israel-judiasm-posts-links-my.html - my writings - personal blog – where I get the Negative responses are all on my re-postings on Medium,

B.)- All That’s Left of You – my review:

https://www.georgemarx.org/2026/01/all-thats-left-of-you-wow.html - fiction + very real – helps reach all except those strongly opposed to my perspective – one of the 3 or 4 best movies I’ve ever seen – I cried a lot, particularly the 2^nd time I saw it (wanted a 2^nd viewing) -  though deeply sad, it is also very affirming and warm – it gets at the truism that those who are deeply traumatized, often take their pain out on at least some of those they are closest to,

C.)- Peter Beinart – his Substack - https://peterbeinart.substack.com/ + has weekly interview zoom calls for those who are “paid subscribers” – he interviewed The Beinin Brothers.  I am going to NYC – for my 75^th birthday – the most significant reason was that I will get a chance to meet Peter in person there – he is an observant Jew,

https://www.georgemarx.org/2025/09/being-jewish-after-destruction-of-gaza.html - Great Book!!!

D.)- Rashid Khalidi – Palestinian-American – he grew up in Mt Vernon – as he said when Beinart interviewed him that a majority of his friends growing up were Jewish –

Rashid Khalidi - This Moment in Palestinian History Peter Beinart interview of Rashid Khalidi –  1/19/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDypq6cKDM

The Hundred Year War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 - Rashid Khalidi – perhaps the best book to read – if only reading one book

https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/02/the-hundred-years-war-rashid-khalidi.html

The Iron Cage, A "Must Read" on Palestine and Israel - Rashid Khalidi

https://www.georgemarx.org/2022/12/the-iron-cage-must-read-on-palestine.html

E.)- Fida Jirysis - https://www.georgemarx.org/2023/03/stranger-in-my-own-land-fida-jiryis.html

F.)- Hajo Meyer - https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/last-interview-auschwitz-survivor-urged-palestinians-not-give-their-fight - Holocaust survivor - died at the age of 90 in 2014 – many of the quotes I’ve found of his could easily have been said since October 7, 2023

G.)- Noura Erakat -  Noura Erakat Interview - Berkeley Law School - February 23, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPYoYGgi2bg Noura Erakat Presentation:

"Palestine - The Limits of International Law"  - August 31, 2024

https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/05/justice-for-some-noura-erakat-great-book.html

H.) – Avi Shlaim - https://www.georgemarx.org/2024/10/three-worlds-avi-shlaim.html

I.)- Loretta Ross – https://lorettajross.com/ - Fear and Resulting Hatred is NOT the ANSWER!

Directly Above/Below – not about Gaza/Israel/Palestine - though relevant

 

“In March 1919,on the eve of the post World War I Paris Peace Conference, ‘Julius Kahn, the German-born Jewish congressman from San Francisco, delivered to President Wilson “A Statement to the Peace Conference” endorsed by 299 Jews.  …[T]he document denounced the Zionists for attempting to segregate Jews and to reverse the historical trend toward emancipation.’  Its signers ‘objected to the creation of a distinctly Jewish state in Palestine’ not only because they feared it would jeopardize the status of Jews like themselves in the home countries, but because they found it ‘contrary “to the principles of democracy’ to elevate Jewish immigrants over Palestine’s Muslim and Christian native inhabitants.  They explicitly denied ‘the existence of ethnic ties among Jews’ and ‘asserted their wish not to see Palestine “either now or at any time in the future’ become a Jewish state.’  They petitioned instead for Palestine to be ‘made into an independent , free, and democratic state that would not recognize any distinctions of creed, race, or ethnic descent among its citizens.’ “ (18) (p. xii) – from https://www.georgemarx.org/2021/06/reclaiming-judaism-from-zionism.html

NOTE:  Julius Kahn – was a reactionary, horrible, wealthy U.S. Congressman, however he was 100% right in what he said above, along with the other signatories.   The Palestinian People were in their country – which Britain promised through the Balfour Declaration – to create a Jewish State in 1917.   I would note: 

1.)   What right does a foreign government have to promise a land (besides hypothetically in their own country) to anyone else, and:

2.)   In 1917 – Palestine – was part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire – it was not even (yet) colonized by Great Britain

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has apologized for his yearslong friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that included regular correspondence, multiple visits to the disgraced financier’s Manhattan apartment and one to his private island.

Donald Trump is deeply tied with Epstein.  While I would Not trust the Republicans, it is not at all clear that the Republican effort to have both Clintons testify is simply "hot air".   Not only Bill is suspect (to me), though if there is a direct sexual tie, obviously he would be much more likely to be "the one" (and only of the two of them).

I will be extremely shocked if anyone connected with HAMAS or Gaza or Palestine has any connection with Epstein.   Besides his strong bias towards Israel and against the Palestinian cause, Epstein was deeply tied to wealth, and if he had connections faintly related, it would obviously have been with some in Saudi Arabia, or other wealthy nearby countries.

This morning, while we protested (it is weekly) in front of The Israeli Consulate, in San Francisco, a fellow protester, who is Not: Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim – and really cares – agreed to borrow the book noted at the top of this writing, hopefully next Friday, at our next protest!

  Thanks  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!