Why does Hamas kill the pets?

Cruelty compounding cruelty

Hamas shot the Bibas family dog. They shot Emily Damari’s dog and then shot her two fingers off while she was holding her dog, trying to comfort her beloved pet as she died. They shot Eli Sharabi’s family dog and killed his wife and two daughters. Notes found on Hamas murderers contained messages from Gazans who had worked in Israeli families’ homes, telling them how many children and pets there were. There were written instructions of whom to murder, in what order. “Kill the dog, kill the cat.”

Why kill the pets?

The cruelty of Hamas, the unspeakable psychological torture that they enjoy inflicting on Israeli people, Jews all over the world, and anyone else who cares about humanity, is… just what it is. They killed these people’s pets. It wasn’t enough to kill the babies, take them as hostages, strangle them, rape the women and men, burn people alive, cut off breasts with box cutters, and torture parents in front of their children and children in front of their parents. They killed the pets.

I suppose I am one of the ones who is not that interesting in forgiving. Many of my friends on the Left will disapprove. They seem to still hold on to the idea that their moral consciences can be comfortable while Israelis are under constant threat of the next “flood,” as Hamas calls October 7. Three busses exploded overnight near Tel Aviv, busses that were meant to explode at rush hour and kill Israeli civilians. If three busses exploded in Brooklyn, Manhattan, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, LA or Philadelphia, would everyone agree that we should just sit tight and show love?

I am spending this Shabbat evening at home with my cat. She has stayed up with me as I cried many nights. She loves the sound of my friend in Jerusalem on the phone at 4 am my time, when I’m up early and he’s just going about his business. (Hang on Jill, I’m safe, I’m just a morning person!) After Cat Shabbat, which doesn’t rhyme but I wish it did, it will be Caturday. I will check the news as soon as I wake up. Another horrific “ceremony” will no doubt have taken place.

There will never be a way to replace the family members who were killed, including the pets. But I hope that those who survive will welcome new furry ones into their families, not to take the place of the slaughtered, but to bring love and peace and comfort as they rebuild and go on. Because they are Israelis - they will not be defeated. And neither will we.

Shabbat shalom, friends.