Timeless Justice

"The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas' operations. These actions will not be our last."

"We are investigating Hersh’s [Goldberg-Polin] murder, and each and every one of the brutal murders of Americans, as acts of terrorism."

"We will continue to support the whole of government effort to bring the Americans still being held hostage home."

"[The defendants were responsible for] financing and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States."

"[They] led Hamas's efforts to destroy the state of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim. [The group] murdered entire families [in] the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust."

"They murdered the elderly and they murdered young children. They weaponized sexual violence against women, including rape and genital mutilation."

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland

An Israeli soldiers take cover close to the border with Gaza on October 7 | Oren Ziv/AFP via Getty Images

 

The American Justice Department issued an announcement of criminal charges they have posted against Yahya Sinwar, the recently anointed Hamas leader, taking the place of the assassinated Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar was formerly head of the Gaza-based Hamas leadership, entirely responsible for the reprehensible atrocities that took place in southern Israel on October 7 of 2023, earning him a thoroughly detestable place in the annals of Jewish existential historical accounts alongside the likes of Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin.

Other senior terrorists responsible for the carnage that took place in Israel have also been named in a government decision to finally take a firm position on accountability and consequences due Palestinian terrorists for their dedication to the goal of destroying the State of Israel and their linked aspiration to slaughter Jews in Israel and abroad. A long-overdue initiative to take on the mantle of justice claiming its due punishment for activities beyond the pale of civilization.

Filed in Federal Court in New York City, the seven-count criminal charges include: conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, conspiracy to murder American nationals and conspiracy to finance terrorism. And nor do Iran and Hezbollah go  unrecognized for their unique roles in the provision of financial support, weapons and military supplies for use in attacks by Hamas.

One imagines that the U.S. failed to address the critical role that Qatar too played in this scenario at risk of embarrassing themselves given the comfortable, trusting relationship between Qatar and the United States, despite the oil-rich Sultanate making no secret of its economic support of Hamas, nor its close relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its international outreach in contributing to the spread of viral antisemitism where Qatar funds organized pro-Hamas 'protests' in Europe and North America.

Since the charges have only symbolic effect, one can only wonder that it took so long for such action to take place; effectively signalling that the United States of America recognizes the barbarism of the Palestinian terrorists in carrying out a wholesale atrocity of rape, mutilation, slaughter and hostage-taking that impacted not only Israeli citizens, but those with American citizenship as well. Reaction of this type was needed and has been long in arriving.

 

Journalists take cover behind cars as Israeli soldiers during clashes with Palestinian fighters on October 7 | Oren Ziv/AFP via Getty Images

So long in fact, that three of the six 'defendants' are now entirely out of the reach of criminal justice, since the natural justice of the targeted nation responding to that declaration of implied genocidal intention took its own avenue of swifter justice in retaliatory strikes that killed the killers of vast numbers of Israeli civilians, both during October 7 and long pre-dating that mass atrocity. 

"Israel will hunt them all down, all of them, wherever they are, wherever, and they know this."

"They know they can’t hide in Beirut, in Qatar, in Turkey, in Europe."

"They will have to hide for many years because anyone who was behind the massacre, financed it and trained the killers is responsible."

Danny Danon, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations

Through the auspices of the U.S. Justice Department, a more expansive effort is being contemplated against an organization that has been designated a foreign terrorist organization since 1997 -- linked to a long series of lethal attacks on Israel and its Jewish population. The American intention was originally an attempted plan to take Ismail Haniyeh into custody along with other defendants, until his untimely and much-deserved end put an end to that unlikely scenario. 

Marwan Issa, deputy leader of the armed wing of Hamas in Gaza, one of the planners of the October 7 massacre, died when Israeli fighter jets struck an underground compound in central Gaza; former leader of Hamas Khaled Mashaal, based in Qatar also met his maker, as did the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza, as also did Lebanon-based Ali Baraka, head of external relations for Hamas.

They have have collectively inspired and directed a mass murder of grotesque proportions and delivery, in fulfilling the desired direction of Palestinian terrorism against Israel and Israelis, but their brief victory has taken its toll in numbers of mass casualties for the humdrum troops that make up the human stock of Hamas operatives, while one by one the leadership, despite all protective measures against detection of their safe spaces, fall in consequence of their inhumanity.

"It took us more than 10 years to get rid of all those who planned the Munich massacre, but we got them, and we must do the same with those behind Oct. 7." 

"We will reach them, and they know it."

Yaakov Peri, former head of Shin Bet

A ceremony in Germany to mark the 50th anniversary of an attack on the 1972 Munich Olympics | Thomas Kienzle/AFP via Getty Images

 

Capital Pride's Hateful Slander

"Ottawa is a kind and welcoming city where everyone should feel included."

"I'm disappointed that despite conversations with the Jewish community, the board of Capital Pride has chosen to stand behind its original statement that caused significant hurt and distress for many members of the Jewish community."

"This decision by the board, days before the start of Pride, has unfortunately created an atmosphere where many now do not feel welcome to participate."

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

 

"[Capital Pride condemned the atrocities of October 7 committed by Hamas and accused Israel of an] endless and brutal campaign in Gaza."

"Growing Islamophobic sentiment [was fuelled by the pink-washing of the war in Gaza and racist notions that all Palestinians are homophobic and transphobic."

"By portraying itself as a protector of the rights of queer and trans people in the Middle East, Israel seeks to draw attention away from its abhorrent human rights abuses against Palestinians."

"We refuse to be complicit in this violence."

Capital Pride statement

People take part in the Capital Pride parade ... Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press

Ottawa's mayor, fully representing all the people of the city has made it clear he will not, this year attend Pride week events in reaction to the statement organizers released that they are "in solidarity with Palestine". The festivities celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community of the city are meant to be events planned to draw people together; the organizers of Capital Pride have chosen to divide people over a political statement that reflects some interests and deflects that of others. The events from August 17 to August 25 have become controversial perhaps beyond the imagination of Pride organizers.

Having alienated the attendance of the city's mayor, who plans to attend other Pride activities but not that of Capital Pride events "unless there is a change in approach", it is surely becoming apparent to said organizers that they have opened a hornet's nest of divisiveness. There are groups, important to the functioning of a civil society, which will react in a manner similar to the mayor's stance. And in so doing they are making it clear that they condemn Capital Pride's allegations and the volatility of the mistaken beliefs behind them.

"Inclusivity and supporting all communities we serve is very important to us as a hospital, as is the safety of any TOH staff/physician, and patient."

"We feel it would not be responsible for us to send staff, physicians, their family and friends, as well as patients to this event."

"[The decision to withdraw from the parade was made after] detailed and thoughtful [discussions with TOH’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council and its Pride Community@TOH. Discussions will continue] to identify other ways we can continue to support and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community throughout the year." 

The Ottawa Hospital statement

 

"[There would be no] official [contingent from [our] health-care facility in this year’s parade because members of both the CHEO and broader communities] no longer feel safe or welcome to attend."

"[Instead of focusing on what brought people together in support of 2SLGBTQ+ people, or even what might bring people together in calling for peace in the Middle East, the Capital Pride Committee] chose to repurpose the Pride Parade to protest Israel. As a result, we are hearing from members of both the CHEO and broader communities that they no longer feel safe or welcome to attend."

"Having CHEO participate in this year’s Pride Parade under these circumstances would send a message of exclusion, which is the opposite of what we believe. Sadly therefore, there won’t be an official CHEO contingent in this year’s Pride Parade. This should not be construed as taking a stance on an international issue. This is about supporting inclusivity and safety for our colleagues, families and volunteers."

Alex Munter, CEO, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Tellingly, Alex Munter is himself gay, and a proud member of the city's gay community. He may know what Capital Pride does not, or chooses not to know, that in Palestinian culture and religious society any deviation from 'straight' is forbidden. Gay life is on the balance between life and death when it is revealed that someone from the community is gay. The choice made by Capital Pride is one of prejudiced ignorance. There are imams across Canada who preach dangerously against the LGBTQ+ element of society.

 

While emoting sensitivity toward Palestinians and gay Palestinians in particular, the Capital Pride organizers cannot be completely ignorant of the fact that in Palestinian society anyone foolhardy enough to 'come out' is gambling with their lives, whereas in Israel the LGBTQ+ community is protected by law, where it is not in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Those that choose to fulminate against Israel while presenting Palestinian society and culture as respectful of the gay community do so out of sheer, unadulterated antisemitism cloaked in concern for gay rights.

 

In Ottawa this year, although hate crimes have overall decreased in most categories, the Ottawa Police Service revealed that crimes against the Jewish community have seen a hundred-percent increase, with 74 incidents having been reported and investigated in the first seven months of 2004 alone, in comparison with 36 for all of 2023, according to a July report. 

As for the organizers of Capital Pride, were they really interested in supporting their claims they could make a trip to the Middle East to satisfy their allegations of pink-washing. In Gaza, they stand the chance of being thrown off a roof by revealing their gender/sex status/orientation. In the West Bank there is the risk of being beaten to a pulp. Should they travel to Iran to further their research, they may no longer be crucified or beheaded, in this more civil world, but garroted or sent to the gallows.

"In recent months there have been repeated reports in the press (including in New Republic, 19 August 2002, East Bay Voice, 19 September 2002, Ha’aretz, 6 March 2003 and 10 September 2001, Jerusalem Post, 5 June 2001) and by civil rights groups (e.g. Agudah, http://agudah.israel-live.de ) on serious violations of the human rights of gays, lesbians, transsexuals and trans-genders in the autonomous areas ruled by the Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2000, it is claimed, four Palestinians were killed for being homosexual, and hundreds were forced to flee to Israel. It is alleged that 'harassment of gays' is 'practically official policy' in the PA. The victims are frequently called collaborators and accused as such. However, there have also been two cases in the last three years where people have been specifically accused of homosexuality. In the wake of the ‘Al-Aqsa Intifada’, Sharia courts have also been set up where homosexuals are threatened with the death penalty by stoning, burning and hanging.  These courts also declare persons suspected of homosexuality to be ‘outlaws’, who can be murdered with impunity. It is also reported that the PA police regularly inflicts appalling torture on homosexuals."

 WRITTEN QUESTION E-1346/03
by Ilka Schröder (GUE/NGL)
to the Council (European Parliament

"By disregarding our concerns  and inviting this year's Pride event to become a protest against Israel, Capital Pride has chosen a divisive position that further marginalizes Jews, who are victimized  by more hate crimes than any other group in Canada."

"Although Capital Pride recognizes the horrors of the October 7th terrorist attack, their statement turns Pride into a protest against Israel, the only Jewish homeland in the world and the only country singled out by Capital Pride. It does nothing to achieve the peace everyone wants to see overseas. Instead, it creates conditions for more hateful antisemitic rhetoric targeting Ottawa’s Jewish community here at home."

"By making anti-Israel policy a centrepiece of Pride, Capital Pride creates a climate where Jews are targeted, unwelcome and unsafe, undermining the entire purpose of Pride. Pride is supposed to embrace the diverse backgrounds of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and should not ask anyone to leave part of their cultural or religious identity at the door to feel safe and included."

Jewish Federation of Ottawa