Hamas is more at fault for the current suffering of Palestinians than Israel.

Thank you for accepting and Good luck. I would like to start by giving the history of Hamas in regard to Israel and Gaza. Hamas started to gain its political power in the 1980's. My opponent claims that Israel set them up and that they did it to remove the PLO. This is simply false because Hamas was already challenging them in the 80's before Israel even got involved. In the 1990's and early 2000's, before Hamas was elected as the primary leaders of Gaza, they have already conducted numerous suicide bombings. In 2006, contrary to what my opponent claims, an election was set up by a quartet, USA, the UN, Russia, and the European. So my opponent claims that Israel "deliberately created Hamas to destroy the PLO". 1. Israel did not even create Hamas. Prior to these elections Hamas was already attacking Israel why would they want them in power? 2. Prior to these elections Hamas was already challenging the PLO. 3. Even if Israel did put Hamas in power this would not solve the problem because Hamas existed before these elections and challenged the PLO like I said. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13331522 This part of your outline is just completely false, misguided false, and has no basis. A leadership's responsibility A group that is responsible for a large group of people is responsible for protecting its people and this should be a top priority. Ever since Hamas came to power, and even prior to that, they have consistently encouraged suicide bombing and has carried out many attacks. Just a day ago Hamas aired to their children that they should dress up as Jews and conduct suicide bombings. www.wnd.com/2014/08/hamas-tv-dress-up-as-jews-to-carry-out-suicide-attacks/ They have additionally taught children that they should love death and suicide bombing. www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=111&fld_id=111&doc_id=1188 In general, if a large group of people under a leadership are attacked once, most of the blame is put on the attacker and some on the leadership. But if a large group of people are consistently attacked, more and more blame goes to the leaders for not preventing it. In the case with Hamas, not only are they not preventing attacks but they are causing them. Historically, nearly every time Hamas launched rockets, Israel responds. For example, operation pillar of defense which occurred in 2012, was an operation by Israel to prevent rocket attacks and as a result, according to Hamas and Gaza officials, 53 civilians were killed. This was similarly the case in the operation cast lead in 2009 and operation hot winter in 2008. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel www.thechronicleherald.ca/world/188333-hamas-claims-victory-as-ceasefire-starts It is clear that Hamas knows that Israel is going to respond if they fire rockets so every time Hamas launches rockets, they are endangering their people. Ironically, the rockets that Hamas aims to hit Israel, has also hit Gaza. At least 100 rockets have hit Gaza. www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/16/idf-says-at-least-100-hamas-rockets-hit-within-gaza/ A rocket even hit a Palestinian home. www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Gaza-rocket-hits-Bethlehem-home-no-injuries-370097 A rocket additionally hit a Palestinian hospital. www.wnd.com/2014/07/hamas-rockets-fall-short-strike-gaza-hospital-refugee-camp/ And to top it off, a rocket hit the power supply that provides electricity for over 70,000 Palestinians. therightscoop.com/hamas-rocket-takes-out-gaza-electricity-line-in-israel-netanyahu-says-not-to-fix-it/ To summarize, Hamas not only has not protected its people from these attacks, but they triggered them by launching rockets and are responsible for many of their deaths by telling them to be suicide bombers. The Use of Palestinians as Human Shields Another way Hamas uses its people for its selfish political purposes. Hamas has been doing this as long as they were around. They are currently doing this and they even admit to this. www.algemeiner.com/2014/08/07/conclusive-proof-that-hamas-uses-palestinians-as-human-shields/ They have also told their civilians to stay and disregard Israel's warnings to free in order to protect their missiles and equipment. www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=12019 They have told their civilians to gather on roofs to prevent Israeli airstrikes and they have listened. mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Pages/Hamas-again-uses-Gazan-civilians-as-human-shields-July-2014.aspx Hamas Operates Right Next to its Civilians Hamas fires many of its rockets from major hospitals. www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183621 They additionally fire from homes, schools, and mosques. www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/07/27/a-school-a-cemetery-a-babys-crib-the-disturbing-spots-where-hamas-is-allegedly-launching-rockets-and-storing-bombs/ This endangers all of the Palestinians because when Israel targets to get rid of these rockets, many innocent civilians are near them. That will be it for my opening arguments. With that being said I turn it over to Con. I look forward to his response.