Dov Hikind is a former New York State Assemblyman and radio talk show host. He also happens to be a prominent voice in the Jewish-American community and an ardent supporter of Israel.

Hikind recently discussed with me his trip to Israel in the aftermath of Hamas’ bloody October 7 surprise attack on the Jewish state and recounted his experience seeing the damage and devastation the terrorist organization carried out on that day.

The cataclysmic event, which is being referred to as Israel’s 9/11, became the flashpoint for its war with Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip. The interview with Mr. Hikind delves deep into the intricate details surrounding the tragic October 7 attack and the circumstances surrounding the current conflict.

To start, Mr. Hikind was adamant in emphasizing that Hamas must be eradicated. He highlighted an interesting point about the difference between Hamas and the Nazis, noting that the latter tried to cover up their persecution of the Jewish people while the former relishes the opportunity to put their atrocities on full display. “Here, these evil people video everything…they wanted the public to know. It’s evil personified,” he said.

Mr. Hikind recounted what he saw when he went to the communities that were attacked by Hamas and discussed some of the stories he was told. He described being in a home in which two girls were “raped in front of their parents.” He also discussed how, in many of the homes he visited, the dried blood was still on the walls and floors in the bullet hole-riddled homes where Hamas operatives slaughtered Israeli civilians.

“And if you’re aware of all those details, you can only have one single position: That Hamas must be eradicated from the face of the Earth. There’s no other way. This group must disappear. Period. End of story.”

The radio host has extensive experience when it comes to analyzing the situation in the Middle East and giving commentary. Having been through the first two Intifadas, Palestinian resistance movements against Israel, he has witnessed the effect of several atrocities. However, he indicated that nothing he has seen in the region so far compares to what Hamas did on October 7.

“There's been a lot of violence, a lot of terrorism in Israel, and I've seen a lot of it over the years. But honestly, nothing compares to what happened here. You're talking about now it's 1,400, way over a thousand, close to 1,100 are civilians, men, women, and children, babies, mothers…a mother who was pregnant, her belly cut up and terrible things done, other things that are beyond this. I've done interviews on TV and other places. You can't write this stuff. You can't say it, the details of what happened, of what a so-called human being could do.”

He added: “I mean, there’s just no comparison between anything that has happened…in the history of the State of Israel.”

Mr. Hikind then highlighted a heartbreaking bit of irony in this reality, that the Israelis who were slaughtered in these communities “were people who supported the Palestinians.”

“This is a known thing for those who follow all the details. These communities were communities that would get along with the Palestinians. These are the people who were for a two-state solution. These are the people who got together with people on the border. Yeah, the irony, I mean, it's just beyond, beyond. Yeah, these communities were communities that, quote unquote, supported the Palestinian cause."

As for the nation of Israel, Mr. Hikind explained that the populace is united after having been through a period of deep division over various political matters. “But everything has changed,” he told me. “This country is as united as it has ever been, as determined to destroy Hamas.”

“Whether you are extreme left, whether you are right, center, this country is totally united. I guarantee you that you will see it unfold further. And it’s terrible that innocent Palestinians are dying. I feel bad, but the blame goes to Hamas,” he continued.

On a touching yet heartbreaking note, Mr. Hikind recounted traveling through the area where the attacks happened and seeing members of Zaka, an Israeli community emergency response team, on the side of the road collecting body parts to help identify victims and ensure a proper burial. But what was poignant about this moment was the level of respect shown to even members of Hamas who had been killed during the fighting.

“The respect that was shown to dead terrorists being collected and put into body bags was something that I couldn't believe…Two dead terrorists, being treated with dignity. Can you figure that one out?”

I also asked Mr. Hikind about the plight of civilians living in Gaza. He detailed how the refugees in Gaza and the West Bank have been wronged by their leadership, which has repeatedly refused to engage in good-faith peace talks with Israel.

Mr. Hikind also highlighted Hamas’ dictatorial authoritarian rule over Gaza, which prevents other movements from rising up and ensures that a significant chunk of the population remains radicalized. The terrorist group has not held elections ever since it came to power in 2007.

I mean, what's going on in Gaza? Yes. It's Hamas that's responsible. But it's not exactly a free society. You can't do an op-ed in a local Gazan newspaper and complain about Hamas, or for that matter, complain about [Palestinian Authority Leader] Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank…The others, you don't get a chance to voice your opinion. You don't get a chance to say enough is enough. You cannot be a moderate. You either follow what's being handed to you or things happen to you.

Interestingly enough, Mr. Hikind indicated that President Joe Biden is viewed favorably by the Israeli populace based on his interactions with the people. “I have to tell you, I’m not a great fan of our president, but…he’s a superstar right now, no question,” he said.

“This is a tough time for the people of Israel, for Joe Biden to come here, and people are traumatized, and people are concerned, for him to come here and speak the way he does…this is a big moment. God bless him.”