1. Before the modern state of Israel (established in 1948), there was the British Mandate (1920-1948), not a Palestinian state.
2. Before the British Mandate, there was the Ottoman Empire (1517-1917), not a Palestinian state.
3. Before the Ottoman Empire, there was the Islamic Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt (1250-1517), not a Palestinian state.
4. Before the Islamic Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, there was the Ayyubid Dynasty (1171-1260), not a Palestinian state. Godfrey of Bouillon conquered it in 1099.
5. Before the Ayyubid Dynasty, there was the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1291), not a Palestinian state.
6. Before the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem, there was the Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171), not a Palestinian state.
7. Before the Fatimid Caliphate, there was the Byzantine Empire (330-636), not a Palestinian state.
8. Before the Byzantine Empire, there was the Roman Empire (27 BCE - 476 CE), not a Palestinian state.
9. Before the Roman Empire, there was the Hasmonean Dynasty (140-37 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
10. Before the Hasmonean Dynasty, there was the Seleucid Empire (312-63 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
11. Before the Seleucid Empire, there was the Empire of Alexander the Great (334-323 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
12. Before the Empire of Alexander the Great, there was the Persian Empire (c. 550-330 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
13. Before the Persian Empire, there was the Babylonian Empire (c. 1894-539 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
14. Before the Babylonian Empire, there were the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea (c. 1050-586 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
15. Before the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea, there was the Kingdom of Israel (c. 1040-722 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
16. Before the Kingdom of Israel, there was the theocracy of the Twelve Tribes of Israel (c. 1400-1050 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
17. Before the theocracy of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, there was the individual state of Canaan (c. 3000-1200 BCE), not a Palestinian state.
In fact, in this corner of the earth, there was everything but a Palestinian state!
The parents of Andrey Kozlov, one of the four hostages rescued by the IDF on Saturday, reveal more details of the physical and psychological torture he endured in captivity:
"He told us that for two months they were tied by their hands and feet. In the first few weeks, their hands were tied behind their backs, and when they started tying their hands in front, they joked that it was a gift from the terrorists. In other instances, they had to relieve themselves into a bucket.
"The terrorists engaged in psychological terror, constantly telling each hostage, 'Israel has forgotten you,' 'Israel wants to get rid of you,' 'Your mother has gone on vacation in Greece, we saw it on the news,' 'Your wife is dating someone else,' 'Your children are doing nothing.' They even said, 'Be quiet because Israel is listening and wants to destroy you, you are a problem for Israel and it's much easier to solve it by killing you than by rescuing you.'
"These are things they went through, and it's unbearable to hear."
Hamas terrorists have issued "standing orders" to kill hostages if they suspect an imminent IDF rescue mission, Israeli officials told the New York Times.
The NYT writes that if other hostages were killed on Saturday, as Hamas has claimed, it is because Hamas puts hostages in civilian areas as human shields - a heinous war crime that must be condemned.
The US & UK assisted the IDF rescue op with drones, comms monitoring & widespread UAV deployment to track hostages.
Israel goes to great lengths to avoid harming civilians, while Hamas exploits their suffering for PR. The world must recognize Hamas' depravity & hold them accountable for these atrocities against Israelis & Palestinians alike.
Israel just carried out one of the most heroic hostage rescues in history. Leave it to the moral trash of the Left to weep for Hamas and its civilian collaborators, and to blame Israel for civilian deaths.
Noa Argamani is a blatant example of what to the Left doesn't exist—an innocent Israeli—so her horrific abduction was erased and her rescue is mourned. Meanwhile, the "journalist" and "doctor" who held 3 other Israelis hostage are recast as the true victims "targeted" by Israel.
BREAKING:
IDF estimates over 1,000 Hamas fighters were in the neighborhood during the Hostage Rescue Operation in Nuseirat.
Massive groups of fighters with RPGs/small arms were targeted inside of a market by an IDF airstrike running towards the assault forces.
Which operation? What was it for?
Why don't you mention that the mission was to rescue 4 Israeli hostages, held by Palestinian "civilians" in the heart of a "civilian" neighborhood?
Why don't you mention that the taking and holding of hostages is a war crime and there is no distinction between militants and complicit civilians under international humanitarian law?
Why don't you mention that you're thrilled the hostages, whose lives were in imminent danger every minute of every day since they were illegally kidnapped from Israel on October 7, are free and safe and with their families?
What is wrong with you?