Israel’s defense forces have once again shown the grit and resolve Americans respect by striking senior Hamas operatives whom Israeli intelligence says were tied to the horrific October 7 massacres. These were not random targets; they were hardened militants who helped plan and carry out the brutal assault that murdered and abducted innocent Israelis. The removal of such leaders is a necessary step toward ending the terror that has stalked Israeli civilians since that day.
Among those the IDF and security services have neutralized are commanders who allegedly doubled as aid workers or hid behind civilian infrastructure to mask their murderous activities. Israel singled out individuals who played direct roles in the October 7 rampage, demonstrating the grim reality that Hamas embeds its terrorists inside the very institutions and neighborhoods the world expects to be protected. Americans who stand for law and order should recognize the moral clarity in taking out those who wage war on civilians while hiding behind others.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t just order strikes; he went straight to the troops and American commanders on the ground to coordinate a shared vision for a demilitarized Gaza — a “different Gaza” that will no longer export terror. His meetings with U.S. military leaders and American service members underscore the vital partnership between our two nations and the practical work required to secure the region. It’s encouraging to see leaders acting decisively rather than issuing platitudes while innocents suffer.
Israel made clear these strikes were a direct response to renewed attacks, including the killing of an Israeli soldier in a sniper ambush, which put forces and civilians at immediate risk. Democracies cannot sit idly by when their soldiers are picked off and their borders threatened; deterrence must be meaningful or it ceases to exist. Any nation serious about protecting its people would do exactly what Israel did — answer violence with focused, lethal precision against the perpetrators.
Behind the scenes, Prime Minister Netanyahu informed President Trump of the operations before they were launched, reflecting the candid, strategic coordination necessary between allies in times of crisis. That kind of straight talk and shared purpose is the opposite of the feckless diplomacy that has too often tied America’s hands; when leadership is united, terrorists find nowhere to hide. Critics who complain about frank cooperation with an American president who stands with Israel should remember whose children are being slaughtered when they point fingers.
Let’s be plain: Hamas is a genocidal terror machine that uses civilians as shields and celebrates massacres as strategy. It is neither a legitimate government nor a partner for peace, and anyone who treats it as such betrays the victims of October 7 and the countless men and women who have paid with their lives. America’s foreign policy must reflect real moral lines — not moral equivalence — and that means unwavering support for Israel’s right to dismantle terror infrastructures that threaten its neighbors and our interests.
Americans who love freedom and the rule of law should demand our leaders continue to stand with Israel, supply necessary support, and back bold strategies that prevent future slaughter. Cowardice and appeasement only reward violence; strength, partnership, and principled action deliver security. Now is the time for patriots to make their voices heard: defend our allies, hold terrorists to account, and never forget the innocent lives at stake.
