The notion that Gaza’s population consists mostly of innocent civilians caught in a war they did not choose is a widely accepted narrative—but is it accurate? The events of October 7, 2023, shattered this illusion, exposing the deep involvement of ordinary Gazans in acts of terrorism, looting, and murder. While Hamas is the governing authority in Gaza, it is not a small, isolated militant group—it is a movement deeply embedded in every aspect of Gazan society. Thousands of so-called civilians actively participated in the massacre of Israelis, looting homes, taking hostages, and mutilating corpses. Others work in Hamas-controlled institutions, shield terrorists, or aid in smuggling weapons. Even humanitarian organizations like UNRWA have been found complicit in Hamas’ operations, with some of their employees joining the attacks. With Hamas controlling education, law enforcement, and the economy, it is difficult to distinguish where its influence ends and where the civilian population begins. If Gazan society not only supports but also participates in terrorism, should the world still view it as an innocent victim of war? This analysis explores the blurred lines between civilian and combatant in Gaza, challenging the conventional wisdom that paints the population as separate from the terrorist group that rules over it.
The October 7th Massacre
The events of October 7, 2023, demonstrated the deep entanglement between Hamas, the civilian population of Gaza, and acts of terrorism. That day, thousands of Gazan civilians—not just uniformed Hamas militants—stormed Israel’s border, committing mass atrocities against innocent men, women, and children. According to documented reports, of the 6,000 Palestinians who infiltrated Israel, approximately 3,800 were members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations, but the remaining 2,200 were classified as “ordinary Gazan civilians”. Yet, these so-called civilians did not behave as uninvolved bystanders or victims of circumstances. Instead, they looted, murdered, raped, and burned down entire communities. In videos shared on social media by the perpetrators themselves, young Gazan boys and elderly Palestinian men alike participated in the slaughter of Israelis. Some carried suitcases filled with clothes, believing they were about to permanently occupy the homes of the Israelis they had just butchered.
Eyewitness testimonies from survivors, forensic reports, and IDF intelligence confirm the horrifying extent of civilian participation in the massacre. Groups of Gazan men, many not formally affiliated with Hamas, tortured families, dragged women by their hair, mutilated bodies, and celebrated the carnage. In Sderot, civilians joined the terrorists in burning homes, ensuring that even survivors hidden in safe rooms would be incinerated. Video footage from that day showed laughing Palestinian children participating in the desecration of corpses, kicking and spitting on the dead. In another disturbing revelation, some Israeli hostages were not held in Hamas military facilities but in the private homes of Gazan families, where they were subjected to brutal conditions. This blurs the distinction between combatants and civilians even further. If Gazan families willfully imprison and abuse kidnapped Israelis, are they truly uninvolved civilians?
The indoctrination of Gaza’s population plays a major role in these behaviors. For years, Hamas has ensured that Palestinian society glorifies martyrdom and the murder of Jews, with even young children raised on a steady diet of antisemitic propaganda. In schools, textbooks funded by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) erase Israel from maps and encourage children to become martyrs. Hamas’ media openly instructs civilians to participate in jihad, and on October 7, many of them answered that call. The Palestinian leadership in Gaza—whether Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or UNRWA-affiliated personnel—has long cultivated an environment where violence against Jews is seen as a communal and religious duty. That is why on October 7, when Hamas called on the people of Gaza to “join the battle”, thousands did. The evidence shows that in Gaza, the line between civilian and terrorist is not just blurred—it is virtually nonexistent.
Gazan Civilians as Active Participants in Terrorism
Beyond October 7, the distinction between Hamas and the civilian population of Gaza remains largely an illusion. Hamas is not simply a military force operating within a civilian society—it is the governing body, the largest employer, and the ideological backbone of Gaza. The organization controls education, healthcare, law enforcement, and the economy, meaning that every aspect of daily life is intertwined with Hamas rule. Gazan civilians rely on Hamas for employment, social services, and protection, ensuring that loyalty to the terrorist regime is the norm rather than the exception. For this reason, many so-called civilians are, in reality, full-time Hamas operatives, informants, or indoctrinated supporters who enable the organization’s continued rule.
A crucial example of this is UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA staff members in Gaza have repeatedly been exposed as active Hamas operatives, some even participating in the October 7th massacre. IDF intelligence has revealed that Hamas routinely recruits UNRWA teachers, healthcare workers, and aid coordinators to support its terrorist infrastructure. Schools run by UNRWA double as weapons depots, and hospitals are often used as command centers for Hamas leaders. Civilians working in these institutions may not wear military uniforms, but they actively contribute to Hamas’ war effort. When an aid worker helps smuggle weapons into a hospital or shields a Hamas commander from detection, is he still a civilian?
Moreover, Hamas has perfected the tactic of embedding its fighters within the civilian population, ensuring that any retaliation by Israel will inevitably result in civilian casualties. This is not a byproduct of war—it is a deliberate strategy. Hamas fighters launch rockets from schoolyards, store munitions inside mosques, and use hospitals as military command centers. When Israel warns civilians to evacuate, Hamas often blocks roads, confiscates car keys, and forces families to remain in harm’s way to manufacture media-friendly images of suffering. Terrorists have been caught dressing in civilian clothing and using children as human shields in firefights. Under these conditions, even the supposed civilian population plays a direct role in Hamas’ military operations.
The reality on the ground suggests that Gazan civilians are not simply innocent bystanders caught in a war—they are active participants in Hamas’ terror network. Whether through employment, ideological support, or direct involvement in violence, large segments of the population contribute to Hamas’ survival. Even those who do not pick up a weapon often play supporting roles—spreading Hamas propaganda, hiding wanted terrorists, or aiding in the abduction and abuse of Israeli hostages. If a “civilian” houses an Israeli hostage in their home or aids Hamas by acting as a lookout, are they truly uninvolved? Gaza’s society has been shaped into a war machine where nearly every civilian has a role in sustaining Hamas’ terrorism.
Internationally Funded “Civilians” Who Support Terrorism
One of the most disturbing aspects of Gaza’s blurred civilian-terrorist divide is the way the international community has enabled this reality. Billions of dollars in humanitarian aid have flowed into Gaza over the years, much of it funneled through UNRWA and foreign NGOs. Yet, instead of improving civilian infrastructure or providing relief, these funds have consistently been diverted toward Hamas’ war machine. Despite receiving vast amounts of aid, Gaza has remained an economic disaster because Hamas prioritizes building terror tunnels over building schools, manufacturing rockets over feeding its people. Civilians who depend on Hamas for jobs and social services in many cases knowingly work for an entity that diverts international aid to fund terrorism.
Captured Hamas documents reveal that the group uses humanitarian supplies for military purposes. Food, fuel, and medicine meant for civilians are often redirected to fighters, leaving ordinary Gazans to starve while Hamas members remain well-fed and supplied. Even the temporary pier built by the U.S. and other nations to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza was exploited by Hamas—with terrorists looting shipments and controlling distribution to ensure that only Hamas supporters received aid. The “civilians” controlling this aid distribution actively work against the humanitarian efforts meant to help them.
Moreover, Hamas has repeatedly used humanitarian pauses in fighting to rearm, reposition fighters, and smuggle in more weapons. Every ceasefire Israel has agreed to has been violated by Hamas, often within hours. The civilians of Gaza, instead of protesting Hamas’ theft of aid or its use of human shields, have largely complied or even participated. There are few reports of Gazans resisting Hamas’ control or exposing its abuses. Instead, in many cases, civilians cheer and celebrate when Hamas carries out terror attacks. This raises the difficult question: Are these truly innocent victims, or are they willing enablers of Hamas’ war against Israel?
The world must acknowledge that the line between civilian and combatant in Gaza is not clear-cut. In a society where schools teach children to kill, hospitals serve as terrorist headquarters, and aid workers double as Hamas operatives, it is impossible to claim that Gaza’s population is purely civilian. Instead of continuing to fund and empower this culture of terror, the international community must demand real accountability. Otherwise, the cycle of violence will never end.
