I stand before you today to share a painful truth about Hamas and their true intentions. As a Palestinian child who grew up in the culture of Hamas, I’ve seen firsthand the harm they’ve caused and the lives they’ve destroyed. My father was one of the founders of Hamas, and I was there when the movement was born.

But what most people don’t know is that Hamas’s primary goal is not just to arm children or encourage them to carry out suicide bombings. Their ultimate aim is to annihilate the state of Israel, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. I know this because I’ve lived through it.

As a child, I was subjected to brutal treatment by Hamas leaders, including being whipped and beaten for disobeying their rules. I was forced to attend mosque and participate in their twisted ideology, all under the guise of obedience to my parents. But as I grew older, I began to see through their lies and recognized the harm they were causing.

I’ve spent 10 years working with Israeli intelligence, fighting against Hamas’s suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation they’ve caused, including the attacks on innocent civilians, including children and women. I’ve also seen the pain and suffering they’ve inflicted on my own people.

But what’s most disturbing is that Hamas’s ideology is not just limited to Israel. They’re a global threat, using their propaganda machine to spread hatred and misinformation around the world. They’re using innocent civilians as human shields, and they’re willing to sacrifice thousands of children for their own political gain.

I know that many people will say that Hamas is just a symptom of a larger problem, that they’re a product of occupation and oppression. But I’m here to tell you that’s not true. Hamas is a monster that must be eradicated if we want to have any hope of achieving peace in the Middle East.

We can’t continue to empower them with our silence or our inaction. We can’t continue to ignore the harm they’re causing and pretend that it’s someone else’s problem. We must take responsibility for our actions and stand up against terrorism in all its forms.

I know that this is a difficult message to hear, but I’m asking you to listen to me, not just as a Palestinian child who grew up in the culture of Hamas, but as someone who has dedicated their life to fighting against terrorism. We must eradicate Hamas if we want to have any hope of creating a safer, more peaceful world for future generations.