Transcript [00:01] Hello and welcome to another episode of [00:02] the Kufi Weekly. And this week I want to [00:04] talk about reconstruction that is the [00:07] reconstruction of Gaza. And I know this [00:09] is a topic which may be a little bit [00:11] left field but there are a number of [00:13] reasons that I want to talk about that [00:15] today. [00:22] One of the things that primarily [00:24] triggered this topic for me was I read a [00:27] report from Impact SE which monitors uh [00:30] textbooks throughout the world and it [00:33] was in regards to Syria. Now Syria post [00:36] Assad. We have Alshara who has taken [00:40] over former al-Qaeda/ISIS [00:43] man but now has presented himself as a [00:45] moderate as an enlightened leader who is [00:47] ready for engagement with the West and [00:49] Israel. [00:51] Meanwhile, while this Islamist is now [00:53] wearing a suit and is finding himself in [00:56] all of the capitals of the Western [00:57] world, research into Syrian textbooks [01:01] post Assad still show huge [01:05] anti-semitism, demonization of Israelis [01:08] and the glorification of Islamist [01:10] ideology. And that made me think about [01:13] the situation in Gaza. Now, there has [01:15] been talk about the reconstruction of [01:17] Gaza for a while. the um agreement which [01:19] brought an end to the war between Israel [01:22] and Hamas. Part of that was included was [01:26] the reconstruction of Gaza. My question [01:28] is who's going to be responsible for [01:30] that? And what does that look like? [01:32] Because I think it's really vital cuz [01:34] here's the thing. We do not want a [01:36] reconstructed Gaza which in 6 months, a [01:40] year, 5 years, it's again a breeding [01:42] ground for terrorism. and a gran you [01:44] have terror attacks being launched from [01:46] the Gaza Strip. In the last few months, [01:49] we've seen Hamas regaining some of its [01:52] power. It's a little bit in the [01:53] ascendancy in Gaza, which is kind of [01:55] frightening. They recently aid was being [01:58] blocked going into Gaza, not because of [02:01] anything Israel were doing, but because [02:02] Hamas were demanding extortionate fees [02:05] from truck drivers bringing aid in. And [02:08] there have been other horrific reports [02:11] how Hamas are trading women for supplies [02:14] and and all sorts of awful things. But [02:17] look, we can all say that we want to see [02:19] a reconstructed Gaza. We want to see a [02:22] better future for the people of Gaza, [02:24] whatever that looks like. But if the [02:26] reconstruction of Gaza is being done, [02:28] which leaves Hamas in power, it leaves [02:31] jihadist groups still empowered. It's [02:33] not a reconstruction. [02:36] It's uh reverting to all the issues that [02:40] have brought us to today. And now we've [02:43] got to think of a bigger picture. Not [02:45] only do you have Hamas, you now have the [02:48] involvement of countries like Qatar and [02:50] Turkey who are instrumental in this [02:54] rebuilding process. Neither are [02:56] particularly friendly to Israel. [02:57] Especially Turkey, we've seen become [02:59] more belligerent. Qatar have a history, [03:02] but also we've seen what a Qatar do with [03:05] their finances to influence ideology. [03:09] We're seeing it in American schools and [03:11] we see what Turkey are now doing with [03:13] their influence. [03:16] So we we have to ask some real questions [03:18] and why does this matter for Americans? [03:20] Because Americans are also being asked [03:23] to help in this rebuilding process. Do [03:26] we want our finances going towards a [03:30] program which is once again going to [03:33] create more terror, more violence, [03:36] or do we want accountability? And that's [03:38] what I'm asking for cuz people are going [03:39] to see this as like, oh, you don't want [03:41] anything to happen in Gaza. You don't [03:42] want construction. You don't want them [03:44] to move forward. Of course I do. But we [03:47] all know that if you build on a [03:48] foundation of hate, terror, and and [03:51] dirt, [03:53] it's going to collapse. And that's the [03:54] last thing we can afford if we want the [03:56] region to go forward. And the world is [03:59] changing. The UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, the [04:02] Abraham Accords, the countries that have [04:04] joined subsequently, the relations which [04:07] are developing between Israel and Latin [04:09] America, between Israel and African [04:11] countries. The world is changing. But if [04:14] we allow Gaza to still be dominated by [04:16] extremists, by terrorists, all we're [04:19] doing is condemning the future of every [04:21] Gaza. The children of Gaza, like the [04:23] children of Israel, deserve a better [04:25] future. They deserve a hope for the [04:27] future. And we are in a position [04:30] to create those sparks of hope. But if [04:33] we go into this construction process, [04:35] this reconstruction process of Gaza [04:37] blind, [04:39] outsourcing it to the worst [04:42] ideologies. [04:44] We will find ourselves exactly in this [04:46] same position once again. And that's why [04:49] we must demand accountability. That's [04:51] why we must demand justice and that's [04:53] why we must demand a foundation of [04:55] truth. [04:57] This is Kasim Hafi for the Kufi Weekly. [04:59] For Zion's sake, do not remain silent. [05:04] Thanks for checking out this episode. Be [05:06] sure to like and subscribe so you get a [05:08] notification every time a new episode [05:10] hits. And if you want to check out some [05:11] of our previous episodes, and we've got [05:13] some really good ones, click on one of [05:15] the thumbnails and that will take you [05:16] right there. And finally, if you want to [05:18] know more about Kufi and the work we do, [05:20] go to kufi.org to check out all the [05:22] resources we have available free to you.
Rebuilding Gaza is about more than bricks and mortar. It's about who will control its future, who will fund its reconstruction, and whether Hamas will be allowed to regain its power.
In this week's CUFI Weekly, Kasim examines critical questions surrounding Gaza's future, the role of regional powers, and why any lasting peace must prioritize Israel's security and prevent the conditions that led to the horrific attacks on October 7, 2023, from recurring.
Reconstruction without accountability is not a pathway to peace.
