Hamas has no place in the civilized world

OPINION:

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” President Franklin Roosevelt made the declaration before a joint session of Congress on Dec. 8, 1941. It was one of the most important speeches in American history.

Roosevelt went on to say: “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces — with the unbounding determination of our people — we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”

Less than an hour later, Congress passed the “Joint Resolution Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial Government of Japan and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same.”

The people of Israel are in a similar situation today. This past Oct. 7 was their Pearl Harbor Day. They must continue to fight back until the existential threat from Hamas no longer exists. They must eliminate this terrorist organization. Period.

Not surprisingly, some question how Israeli intelligence did not know about the well-planned attack before Oct. 7. Some conspiracy theorists even go so far as claiming that top Israeli officials knew and let it happen to draw them into a war with Hamas.

Interestingly, many questioned how the United States could have been caught unaware of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Some conspiracy theorists have argued that various parties in the American and British governments knew the attack was coming and may have even let it happen as a pretext for the U.S. to enter the war. Mainstream historians have rejected these claims. They will likely do the same over conspiracy claims about Israeli officials.

Israel, like the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor, has every right to respond to its attackers. Israelis have every right to do as Roosevelt said 82 years ago and defend themselves to “the uttermost” and “make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.”

The United States was never involved in a cease-fire after the attacks. Our military did not stop until the total defeat of our collective enemies was realized. Israel should now do the same.

Those who believe that the innocent people of Israel had it coming are fundamentally wrong. The evil thugs of Hamas attacked, raped and murdered innocent men, women, children, and old people. They are coldblooded killers who violated every sense of decency with their actions.

Then they took hostages who, along with residents of Gaza, were used as human shields. When Israelis did agree to a cease-fire, they were forced to turnover prisoners at 3-to-1 ratio for every hostage Hamas released. Many released from Israeli jails were in for serious crimes such as attempted murder, while all the hostages were innocent civilians.

Amazingly, many radicals praised Hamas for its treatment of the hostages. Tell that to Noam and Alma Or, who were held captive in Gaza by Hamas. They were recently released only to learn their mother was killed by the terrorists in the initial attack and their father was still being held hostage. Any positive images are merely propaganda.

Leaders of Hamas have made it clear their goal is the elimination of Israel and the Jewish people. Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said on Lebanese television: “Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove it because it constitutes a security, military, and political catastrophe to the Arab and Islamic nation. We are not ashamed to say this.”

When asked whether this meant the annihilation of Israel, Mr. Hamad replied, “Yes, of course.”

Their goal is not a two-state solution. It is to eliminate the state of Israel, period.

Like the Allied forces in World War II, we must never appease evildoers. There can be no stopping until this evil is eradicated from the earth. Hamas has no place in the civilized world. As President Franklin Roosevelt said more than eight decades ago, there must be “absolute victory.”

• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.