TEL AVIV - In a shocking turn of events, ordinary Palestinians in Gaza joined forces with Hamas terrorists during the recent deadly attacks on Israel, escalating the horror and raising concerns about the possibility of coexistence between the two communities. Videos, eyewitness accounts, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirm the participation of non-Hamas Gazans in what has been deemed the deadliest pogrom against Jews since the Holocaust.

According to Israeli officials from the devastated Gaza border region, the Gazans who followed the Hamas terrorists into Israel were dressed as civilians and mostly unarmed, exploiting the chaos to engage in a second wave of carnage that rivaled the barbarism of the professional terrorists. The IDF spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, confirmed that large numbers of non-Hamas Gazans were involved in the atrocities, though specific details were not provided.

Communities near Israel's Gaza border, home to many peaceniks, have had their assumptions shattered. Gadi Yarkoni, the mayor of the Eshkol Regional Council, expressed his dismay, stating, "We saw that it was not only Hamas who came to slaughter us. It was all the residents of Gaza, including people who worked in our kibbutzim." Yarkoni's own idealism has been pushed past its breaking point, calling for a complete crush on Gaza to restore peace.

The involvement of ordinary Gazans in Hamas's campaign of terror is still unclear, but the impact has been profound. The mayor estimated that around 3,000 Gazans were involved in the attack, with approximately half of them being civilians. Disturbing scenes were witnessed, with one Gazan civilian recorded decapitating a victim and others engaged in looting and desecration of Israeli military bases.

The involvement of ordinary Gazans extended beyond acts of violence. Numerous reports detail instances in which Gazans extorted their victims for money before committing acts of arson and destruction. One survivor, Jacqueline Glicksman, recounted how three teenagers from Gaza demanded money before burning down her house. These actions have further fueled calls for a decisive response from Israel.

The Gaza Strip witnessed celebrations as the returning kidnappers were hailed as heroes, taunting Israeli hostages and parading them through the streets, as seen in online videos. Testimonies from survivors reveal the horrifying extent of the violence carried out by both Hamas terrorists and ordinary Gazans. Raz Cohen, a former Israeli commando, witnessed shocking acts of rape and murder at the Nova music festival, perpetrated by both groups.

The collaboration between Hamas terrorists and ordinary Gazans during the Oct. 7 attack has drawn attention to the question of coexistence and the future of Gaza. Security chief Daniel Meir highlighted the clear differences between the two groups, with Hamas terrorists wearing uniforms and carrying military-grade weapons, while ordinary Gazans wore casual clothing and often carried only knives or weapons they had taken from fallen Israelis or Hamas members.

The attack on Israel and the involvement of non-Hamas Gazans have shattered the belief in coexistence held by many Israeli communities near the border. The IDF has detained several thousand Gazan guest workers as part of their investigation into their potential involvement in planning the attack. This unprecedented situation has raised concerns about peaceful relations and the possibility of reaching a lasting resolution between the Palestinians and Israelis.

As details continue to emerge about the extent of the involvement of ordinary Gazans in Hamas's atrocities, Israelis are left grappling with the harsh reality that peace may be unattainable as long as radicalism and jihadism persist among some members of the Palestinian population. The desire for peace remains ingrained in the hearts of many, but the actions witnessed during this horrendous attack have left scars that will be hard to heal.