Israeli Muslim Rescuer on Hamas Terrorist Attack: This is the Result of 'Hatred'

Reuters reports the account of an Arab Muslim rescuer in Israel regarding the civilian massacre during the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7. According to the report, Jamal Waraqi was one of the first emergency responders to enter the area after the Hamas attack in southern Israel. Unlike most emergency workers present that day, Waraqi is an Arab Israeli Muslim. He describes October 7 as a 'deeply distressing day' and believes more than ever that humans must 'stop the hatred' and learn to live alongside one another. Waraqi is a volunteer rescuer with ZAKA, a non-governmental organization for rescue and recovery. Founded in 1995, ZAKA is predominantly Jewish and is responsible for ensuring the burial of Jewish victims according to Jewish law. Christian, Druze, and Muslim volunteers also collaborate with this organization. Standing beside his ambulance, Waraqi told a Reuters reporter, 'I saw many families that had been butchered.' He recounted a father and mother who, along with their three children, were shot dead in front of each other while bound and kneeling. He continued, 'When you see something like this... you start to imagine what they went through. What their reaction was, who was killed first, the children or the parents.' Waraqi states that what happened in the peaceful and green community of Be'eri—where homes were set ablaze and families were brutally killed in their homes—'has nothing to do with Islam.' He asserts, 'As a proud Arab Israeli Muslim, I say that these actions have nothing to do with our religion.' Be'eri was one of the areas most affected by the October 7 Hamas attack. Israeli officials, who reported the death toll at 1,200, stated that most civilians were killed in their homes, on the streets, or at a dance festival. This was the deadliest attack in Israel's 75-year history. After evacuating the remaining residents, Israel began its devastating ground assault against Hamas. The United States, European Union, and Japan have designated the Iran-backed Hamas militant group as a terrorist organization. According to Waraqi, many Muslims were also killed in the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. He recalled two veiled Arab women who were shot by the attackers. He also mentioned caring for three Arab drivers from East Jerusalem who were shot in the head. Waraqi emphasized, 'This means Hamas does not do this for the country or religion. They only do these things out of hatred.' Waraqi continued, 'We are all equal.' He expressed hope that Jews, Arabs, Christians, and Muslims learn to live together. This Israeli Muslim rescuer added, 'In my opinion, today Israel learned how to die together. It is time we learn how to live together. We must put aside hatred and start living alongside one another.'