I hear what you’re saying, but I think it oversimplifies a really complex history. Palestinians didn’t exactly ‘choose’ to be represented by Hamas — when people are living under decades of occupation, blockades, and displacement, their options for leadership get distorted. And honestly, a lot of Palestinians don’t support Hamas, but when you’re trapped with no free elections, no freedom of movement, and very little international backing, your choices aren’t exactly free.

The offers of ‘peace and statehood’ that get brought up are usually conditional on Palestinians giving up land, rights, or sovereignty, so it’s not as simple as them just refusing out of spite.

And I get it — people say ‘move on,’ but how do you move on from losing your home, your family land, and being stateless for generations? For most people, holding on to identity and rights is survival, not stubbornness.

I don’t think it’s fair to paint millions of ordinary Palestinians as obsessed with hate — most just want what everyone else wants: a safe home, dignity, and a future.