Israel-Hamas War VII: We thought we could be friends

Still on the lookout for innocent Gazans — those who did not take part in the atrocities, those who did not take advantage of the openings in the fences to loot Jewish homes, those who did not cheer at the news of Jews being tortured, slaughtered, raped, abducted, those who did not hide hostages for Hamas, those who did not throw stones and jeer at the ambulances driving hostages through Gaza to the border to be taken home….you know. A few innocent Gazans who neither actively nor passively supported Hamas’ project to rid the world of pesky Israel.

Perhaps a friend? Could someone who shared a friendship and conjoint artistic venture be such an innocent Gazan?

Guess not.

Ari Ingel, director of Creative Community for Peace (promotes the arts as a bridge to peace, counters antisemitism in the entertainment industry, and opposes the cultural boycott of Israel), heard directly from Batya Holin about her experience with an “innocent Gazan,” a man she had regarded as a friend. I typed out the text so you do not have to open the post itself.

Batya, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a photographer & a peace activist, struck up a friendship with a Gazan photographer.

He took pictures of Gaza & she of her village. They uploaded them together in a joint exhibition where over 10,000 people viewed their images. They even had plans for a joint exhibit in San Diego.

On October 7th, her “friend” called, asking if there were Israeli soldiers nearby, asking where she was and how many she sees.

That’s when Batya realized that her “friend” was not her friend nor a peace activist, but rather collecting information on herself and her village for Hamas. He had been passing along her previous photos of her Kibbutz to Hamas.

Batya: “There is no one who was not involved.”

Batya, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a photographer & a peace activist, struck up a friendship with a Gazan photographer.

He took pictures of Gaza & she of her village. They uploaded them together in a joint exhibition where over 10,000 people viewed their images. They even… pic.twitter.com/DotYS4Exrr

— Ari Ingel (@OGAride) December 8, 2023

In a Channel 13 News video interview with Batya [with English subtitles here], she explains how she had befriended Mahmoud. She posted an announcement that she wanted to do a photo exhibit from both sides of the fence. Five Gazans began to work with her on the project and then four dropped out, telling her it was too dangerous for them to continue.

Batya admits that, in her naivity, and her desire to believe in the potential for Gazans and Israelis to live peacefully side by side, she did not consider the implications behind Mahmoud continuing. He said he would continue despite the danger. And when discussing their photo exhibition in the USA, where they would meet physically for the first time, he proclaimed his excitement at showing the world that Gazans and Israelis can love each other.

Then, on Oct 7th, when terrorists were running amok in her kibbutz, Mahmoud phoned. Until that moment, he had never used the phone to speak with her. He wanted to know how many soldiers were in the kibbutz and where they were. She instantly hung up the phone and blocked his number.

Batya, who had been a symbol of Palestinian-Israeli co-existence now believes there is not a single innocent Gazan. She concludes the interview thus:

Everyone is involved. Everyone is involved. It is awful that I say that. It truly is awful. But I cannot think anything else today.

An excellent and detailed account of what she went through on Oct 7th is in this English translation of an article that appeared in Davar.

Other articles on this website about “innocent” Gazans:

An innocent Gazan civilian who hates Hamas – Really
War against Hamas, Part IV: An innocent Gazan citizen
Feature Image is a screenshot from a Channel 13 News interview with Batya Holin.