Gaza: Jews, Philistines & "Palestinians"

Gary Fitleberg

What is the historical role of the Jews, Philistines, and “Palestinians” in Gaza?

Who has claim to the land? Who has claim to the name?

Gaza, meaning strong place, was an ancient biblical city on the Mediterranean Sea, about fifty miles southwest of Jerusalem, situated in ancient days on the boundary of Canaan (Gen. 10;19). It was one of five chief cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3). The city was conquered by Joshua and the tribe of Judah (Josh. 10:41; Judg. 1:18). Samson carried off the gates of Gaza (Judg. 16;2,3). At the time of Solomon, Gaza was the southern boundary of the Kingdom (1 Kings 5:4). Hezekiah, King of Judah defeated the Philistines there (2 Kings 18:8). The prophets condemned and predicted the desolation of the city for its inequities (Amos 1:6,7; Zeph. 2:4; Zech 9:5).

The Philistines, or in Hebrew Philishtim, meaning Invaders, were a non-Semitic people, doubtless the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor (today the Greek island of Crete) during the 12th Century B.C.E., dispossessing the Avvites, or in Hebrew Avvim, and occupied their territory – the maritime plain of Canaan in which much later became Palestine (Deut. 2:23, Jer. 47:4, Amos 9:7).

The Philistines were formidable enemies of the Children of Israel.

Against them Samson urged a single-handed contest (Judg. 14;1-16:31). When the elders of Israel, fearful of defeat, sent the Ark to the camp. The Philistines captured but returned it at the outbreak of a plague (1 Sam 4:1-6:21). The famous stone Eben-ezer, was set up by Samuel, the prophet, in commemoration over a victory over them (1 Sam. 7:11,12).

Saul fought them valiantly but was defeated at Mount Gilboa where he and his three sons died in battle (1 Sam. 31:1-13).

David defeated and reduced them to vassalage (2 Sam. 5;22-25; 8:1) though twice previously he sought refuge amongst them and had been granted possession of Ziklag (1 Sam. 21:10-15; 27:6).

Hezekiah and Uzziah waged successful war against them (2 Kings 18;8; 2 Chron 26: 6,7).

Judgment was passed upon the Philistines by the prophets (Jer. 47:1-7; Ezek. 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph 2:4,5; Zech. 9:5-7).

In the earliest times the land was known as the Land Of Canaan. G-d gave this Holy Land or Promised Land to his people the Children of Israel as an eternal gift together with the Torah or Deed of Trust in a covenant which can never ever be broken.

When the Children of Israel, Hebrews, or Israelites left Egyptian bondage to settle in their G-d given land they renamed it the Land of Israel, or in Hebrew Eretz Yisrael, after one of the patriarchs of the Jewish people – Jacob whose name evolved into the name Israel.

The Children of Israel and the Land of Israel remain inseparable eternally.

When in the period of its political decline as a Jewish state, when the Romans conquered it and subjugated it 1,900 years ago the called it Palestine (Philistia, i.e., the land of the Philistines, as an insult to the Jews they conquered). In fact, the Philistines occupied only the southern portion of the coastal region.

Since then, and until the establishment of the modern State of Israel, or in Hebrew Medinat Yisrael, in 1948 the land has universally been known as Palestine.

In other words, the true blue “Palestinians” are the Jewish people. At various times in their earlier history they were also called and known as Children of Israel, Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews (from the tribe of Judah and region of Judea – one of the three disputed territories).

For thousands of years, Jewish “Palestine” was occupied by many conquerors and invaders until it was returned to its rightful owners finally. Amongst them were the Romans, Mamluks, Turks and British.

The Arabs have very successfully invented a fictitous Arab independent “Palestine” nation and “Palestinian” people to make a false claim to a land that does not belong to them rightfully. This lie, myth, and propaganda is nothing more or less than historical revisionism. It is an attempt to brainwash the entire world and make them forget the honest truth.

The Arabs have since successfully hijacked the name “Palestinians” from the Jews to make everyone believe the land belongs to them and them only.

Nothing van be further from the truth.

The analogy that the Philistines and “Palestinians” are the same people is a blatant lie, myth and propaganda. Labels and language legitimize lies. Lies must be exposed.

The Arabs/Islamists use the similarly sounding names to perpetuate their political propaganda and agenda for the annihilation of the only Jewish nation state in the entire world.

The Philistines were a non-Semitic people. Distinct. Extinct.

The Arabs calling themselves “Palestinians” today are a Semitic people and descendants of Ishmael.

The only similarity between these two peoples is that both are destructive and evil invaders who seek to dispossess the Jews and possess the land through thievery.

Although they use an analogy that because the Philistines were there before the Jews that they as “Palestinians” came first and are the rightful owners of the land.

Most of the Arabs who came as the real settlers and squatters came from neighboring Arab nations of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria during the mid to late 1920’s to escape economic hardship and political prosecution from their own governments and homelands for better opportunity under the Jews.

In fact, according to the British Mandate or Palestine Mandate, an Arab Palestine already exists on 80% of the land set aside for a Jewish homeland by the earlier Balfour Declaration. This is the fictional Arab Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, formerly Transjordan. A nation that aggressively attacked Israel with the intention of its annihilation from the map on more than one occasion. In 1948, it conquered and occupied the disputed territories of Judea & Samaria. In 1967, Israel reconquered its land in a defensive war. According to international law, land lost be an aggressor legally belongs to the aggrieved and attacked.

Another Arab population expansion and explosion occurred during the illegal occupation of Gaza, Judea and Samaria for nineteen years from May 1948 through June 1967.

The Arabs have absolutely no Biblical, historical, political, moral or rightful claim to the Holy Land, Promised Land, Land of Israel or State of Israel. Not one inch. We put nothing in all of the lies, myths and propaganda perpetuated for a political agenda of annihilation, ethnic cleansing and genocide.

G-d gave the Holy Land or Promised Land to the Children of Israel together with the Deed of Trust or Torah. Only in “G-d We Trust!”

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Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs. His articles have appeared internationally in numerous publications including La Prensa (Managua, Nicaragua equivalent to the L.A. Times), Pakistan Today, The Kashmir Telegraph, The Iranian and many more.

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