Daddy, why did Hamas attack us on October 7?

This conversation depicts a dialogue between a father and his son discussing the father's negative views and prejudices against Palestinians.

The son challenges his father's stereotypes by expressing a real concern about the Israeli and Palestinian hostages as well as the killing of Palestinian women & children and the importance of open-mindedness.

Son: Daddy, why did Hamas attack us on October 7? Dad: Because they are evil & hate Jews. Son: How come we are killing their kids? Are they evil too? Dad: Everyone (sooner or later) wants us off their land. Why not kill their children now and get it over with? Son: Doesn't the book of Torah say that soldiers must not cause any harm to the non-combatant people like women and children? Dad: You must be talking about the Quran, sweetheart! Son: Daddy, why are we cutting food, water, and electricity from Gaza? Dad: So they can leave, surrender, or die. And we'll use Hamas as an excuse. Son: Dad, we have 10,000 Palestinian prisoners. Why can't we trade hostages? Dad: Shush, son! We don't want anyone to know we are holding that many. Besides, Hamas will declare victory and that will be a real embarrassment for Israel. Son: We call a Palestinian who kills an Israeli a terrorist. What happened when we kill one of them? Are we called terrorists too? Dad: No, Shlomo, we are God's chosen people. We kill them before they have a chance to kill us. Son: What happened if the hostages die from bombing or lack of food and water? Dad: Who cares, son! They'll be collateral damage and if they're lucky, they might live. Son: Daddy, I am really scared and can't go to sleep!

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired USAFR veteran who lives in Westerville, Ohio. He could be reached at: [email protected]