“As a Palestinian Muslim, I’m not rejoicing Israel’s wildfires”, whilst Palestinian firemen help putting out fire

Wildfires in Israel’s third largest city Haifa, Israel has led to more than 80,000 people to be evacuated from their homes.

The fires follow a two-month drought and are being fanned by strong winds in the north of the city. Wildfires are also threatening homes near Jerusalem and in the West Bank.

The incident has led to some of those who oppose Israel for being an apartheid and oppressive state express joy and are saying this is what it means by you reap what you sow.

However, Wasim Ismail, a Palestinian Muslim took to his Facebook account to condemn those who are rejoicing at this event. He says

Israel on fire?

Reality is that we should not be wishing the burning and harm on non-combatants.

People get so excited and say that this is what they get for banning the Adhan.

Our problem is specifically with the Zionist government and army. This is a calamity befalling civilians as well. This is coming from a Palestinian Muslim by the way.

More than anybody else I should be jumping on this opportunity to rejoice and celebrate, no, I will not do that. It would be immature to say the least.

If this is Allaah’s punishment, then all praise is due to Allaah, but for us to be making it seem like it is a victory to the Muslims is very naive in my opinion.

These would be the same mentalities that praise the 9-11 attacks and endorse suicide bombings.

No, I am not one of them, and I am prepared to meet Allah on this methodology and belief.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=340752049623975&id=100010675479398

This sentiment was further backed when COGAT Israel tweeted saying Palestinian firemen and fire trucks are on the way to help:

#Palestinian firemen and firetrucks are now on their way to help put out fires across #Israel. Daily and during crisis, cooperation is key. pic.twitter.com/hrEo603Iwa

— COGAT (@cogatonline) November 24, 2016

Even the Muslim country Turkey provided support, regardless of the fact that President Erdogan had recently compared the Israeli regime to Hitler:

Thank you #Cyprus,#Croatia,#Greece, #Italy,#Russia,#Turkey,#Romania & #Bulgaria for sending help to fight the fires in Israel. True friends! pic.twitter.com/QENYJJYe0z

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) November 24, 2016

As Muslim, we are told to uphold justice and repel evil with good. We are taught not to be bad to those who are being bad to you, rather show compassion and thus it can lead to an enemy becoming a friend.