In a shocking and devastating turn of events, Hamas launched a series of horrific attacks against Israel over the past weekend. These attacks have resulted in the murder of at least 1,000 Jews, marking the largest murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Marina Rosenberg, the senior vice president for international affairs at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), denounced these attacks as clear antisemitism. For Rosenberg, who has personal connections to the tragedies of the past, these attacks brought back painful memories of her ancestors who fled pogroms in the Russian Empire and were later murdered during the Holocaust.

Rosenberg also highlighted the disturbing development of rallies happening around the world, including in the United States, that are “celebrating” the slaughter of Jews in supposed solidarity with Palestinians. She condemned these rallies as clear examples of antisemitism, pointing out that they not only featured swastikas, but also included speakers who denied the innocence of the Israeli victims. She emphasized that this is not about being pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, but about having the morals to fully denounce these acts of terrorism and hate speech.

Rosenberg also criticized the media's coverage of the attacks, claiming that news organizations are simply “copy-pasting” from previous conflicts and failing to properly portray the devastation caused by Hamas. She argued that this was not just another round of conflict, but an unprovoked act of war by a terrorist organization. She pointed to Iran as the likely mastermind behind Hamas' actions, noting that Iran is not only the number one state sponsor of terrorism but also the number one sponsor of antisemitism in the world.

Meanwhile, David Friedman, the former U.S. ambassador to Israel under the Trump administration, expressed his shock and disbelief at the terrorist attacks. He described it as the largest assault and most successful murder campaign against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Friedman, who is currently in Jerusalem, shared his personal experiences of having to go into shelters every hour or two, while also grappling with the difficult task of explaining the situation to his visiting grandchildren.

Friedman attributed the success of Hamas' attack to Iran's careful planning and approval of every aspect of the operation. He criticized the United States for appeasing Iran at the same time as it agrees to exchange hostages with the country. Friedman argued that Iran's ultimate goal is to scuttle the diplomatic progress between Israel, America, and Saudi Arabia.

He also expressed concern for the Americans affected by the attacks, revealing that at least nine Americans are among the murdered and many more are unaccounted for. With no ambassador to Israel under the Biden administration, Friedman highlighted the challenges faced by American families searching for their loved ones.

Despite concerns about Hezbollah getting involved in the conflict along Israel's northern border, Friedman believed that Iran had already achieved its goals through Hamas and saw no incentive for Hezbollah to intervene. He warned against underestimating the power of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and stated that Israel would respond by flattening Lebanon if necessary.

As the death toll continues to rise and the conflict intensifies, both Rosenberg and Friedman called for the world to recognize the clear antisemitism behind these attacks and to stand against the hate and violence. The Jewish people, once again, find themselves facing a brutal assault on their lives and their homeland, invoking painful memories of the past and a renewed call for justice and peace.