There is absolutely no doubt that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has exploited the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorism to advance his long-term agenda to destroy any chances of peace with the Palestinians. His war on the Gaza Strip has resulted in the worst massacre of Palestinians since the Nakba of 1948.

Netanyahu and his extremist predecessors, such as the late Ariel Sharon, have continued the terrorism that was started in Palestine in the 1920s by Jewish extremists under the banner of Zionism.

But instead of being smart by pursuing a strategic response to defeat these Zionist extremists and their racist violence, Palestinians have too often allowed their emotions to control their actions. This has exposed the just Palestinian cause to Western animosity, driven by media bias.

One journalist who contributed to this narrative was the American Freda Kirchwey, the editor of The Nation magazine from 1933 to 1955. During her editorship, The Nation falsely portrayed Arabs and Muslims as the drivers of violence in Palestine, while closing its eyes to the Jewish attacks of the 1940s.

The Arab world had very little influence over the Western media, which dominated public information. The racist portrayal of the Arab world to disguise the violence of the new state of Israel was broadened into all aspects of communications, including the publishing world.

This was a strategic, unemotional plan that was embraced by Israelis, Jews and Christian Americans, who viewed the Palestine conflict as a modern-day revival of the Christian-led Crusades against the Muslim “hordes.” Such Islamophobia in the West continues to this day, although now it is veiled by more diplomatic expressions and less confrontational rhetoric.

Instead of understanding this historical dynamic, the Arab and Islamic worlds and pro-Palestinian activists tend to embrace a policy of anger and outrage. This has resulted in several wars that have only weakened the image of the just cause of the Palestinians.

Palestinians need to make a clean break from Hamas and define a new leadership, even in the face of Israel’s brutal violence. They cannot wait until Israel’s carnage is concluded, because it will not be concluded any time soon.

They need to commit to an entirely nonviolent response to Israel and the growing anti-Palestine movement in America. The horrible Gaza genocide naturally fuels pain, suffering and anger, but these emotions need to be contained in order to effectively neutralize Israel’s fanaticism and its increasing violence. An eye-for-an-eye response will not work amid today’s trauma.

Palestinians need to show the strength of their compassion for all human beings — Christians, Muslims and Jews alike — in every expression and in every action. To do otherwise only gives Israel a platform to ratchet up its violent oppression.