Some people like to trot out a particular piece of nonsense that goes “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” A political update of “One man’s meat is another man’s poison,” the intention is to highlight how someone who supports a paramilitary group will cast them as the heroic resistance, whilst those who oppose it will generally cast them as evil villains.
There’s certainly some truth in that, except it is more the case that some people will cast non-terrorists as terrorists in order to discredit them, whilst anyone who supports actual terrorists will attempt to deceive others (and probably themselves) by pretending that they aren’t.
The problem is, terrorism isn’t subjective. Yes, there is some subjectivity on where to draw the line between terrorism and legitimate conflict (is planting a bomb under a military officer’s car terrorism? How about blowing up a politician who directs the military campaign?), but terrorism itself – the direct, deliberate targeting of civilians – isn’t subjective. Terrorism is about actions, not about ideology or motivations. A terrorist is defined by their actions. Their motivation may put them in the same camp as freedom fighters, but their actions separate them from tolerable resistance. If a group engages in terror, they are terrorists, no ifs or buts.
Equally, just as motivation doesn’t justify or excuse evil actions, those actions don’t automatically mean that the same motivation is invalid or wrong when held by others whose actions aren’t evil. A claim should be tested on its own merits and not on the actions of some who hold or claim to hold it.
The actions of Hamas in recent days are unequivocably terrorism of the most evil and heinous sort. Whatever your thoughts and feelings about the Palestinian cause, there can be no justification for what Hamas has done, no excuses, no ambivalence. Anyone who fails to fully denounce their crimes, anyone who calls them militants or freedom fighters or a resistance instead of terrorists, anyone who equivocates with an “Oh, but…” or “What about…” is endorsing their crimes and shares their guilt. The rights and wrongs of the situation between Israel and Palestine can be discussed, but not without making it clear that such behaviour is beyond the pale and unconscionable.
Hamas are terrorists, no ifs or buts. There are many Palestinians seeking a peaceful and mutually just end to the conflict with Israel – they are not terrorists. Hamas are.
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