Link to Article:https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-publishes-footage-showing-hamas-torturing-palestinians
On November 10, the Israeli Defense Forces published discovered footage of HAMAS torturing Palestinian citizens in Gaza. In one of the captions, the IDF proclaimed that HAMAS was not only Israel’s enemy but an enemy of Gaza, too. The year’s worth of footage shows brutal interrogations that violate human rights laws conducted by HAMAS members against citizens who were most likely suspected of opposing the HAMAS rule. The videos show Gaza citizens in confined windowless rooms with bags over their heads, hands tied behind their backs or over their heads attached to a chain descending from the ceiling. Most were standing on both legs or forced to stand on one leg. The videos were reportedly taken from Outpost 17 in the Gaza Strip.
The release of this footage will most likely have one of two affects, it will either encourage Israeli support in the war against HAMAS, or it will be ignored and dismissed as Israeli propaganda. HAMAS has been designated as a terroirs group like ISIS. However, the civilian consensus on HAMAS differs. There have been many civilian protest around the world in support of HAMAS which conflict with the many governments distinction of HAMAS as a terrorist group. Israel has called HAMAS a terrorist group for a very long time and uses that in their justification of their actions being in self-defense. That being said, HAMAS has reported that the IDF uses Palestinians as human shields. Most likely this video release won’t matter until the was is won, the usage of the video will also depend on who wins.
For Israel, this video can lead to an influx of support or an inferno of backlash. If HAMAS or anyone else manages to discredit the video legitimately, Israel will lose all support, as this is clear documentation of human rights violations. If this video is certified as coming from Gaza, proof that it is HAMAS militants conducting interrogations, and innocent Gaza citizens are proven to be the victims, this could be the evidence that forces the entire world to acknowledge HAMAS as a terrorist group. For HAMAS, this video could make them or destroy them. If they prove the videos are proven to be fake and support is pulled from Israel, it will become much easier for HAMAS to win. If they prove the videos are proven to be real, HAMAS could face trials in the International Criminal Court for human rights violations.
It is in Israel’s national interest to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that these videos are real. These videos could turn international support in their favor with more funding and aid that could help to swiftly end the war with HAMAS as an Israeli win. HAMAS’s national interest is to prove that the videos are propaganda. The videos are irrefutable violations of human rights. If those are Gaza citizens being interrogated by HAMAS, they will lose support from anyone who is not solidly on their side. Europe and America will staunchly support Israel and pressure the UN to provide more aid to Israel rather than Gaza.