Hamas’ barbaric October 7 massacre of Israelis — including children and the elderly — was driven by hatred, yes, but it was also enabled. Governments, organizations, and media outlets all played a role. Israel, Arab states, the United States, the United Nations, and especially Qatar share responsibility. Now, as Israel nears victory and “day after” debates begin, the international community needs to rethink its approach to both Gaza and Doha.Qatar has long styled itself as a mediator. In reality, it has become a saboteur.Qatar must face consequences. Gaza must be freed from Hamas. And America must stop funding its own adversaries.Qatar has provided safe haven to Hamas leadership for years and continues to do so, depending on how many survived Israel’s decapitation strike in Doha on Monday. Despite reports suggesting the United States asked Qatar to host Hamas leaders for negotiation purposes, the relationship long predates October 7 and any such arrangement.Qatar also hosted Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Muslim Brotherhood’s spiritual leader, until his death in 2022. Its most powerful media arm, Al Jazeera, has functioned as a Hamas mouthpiece, even providing journalistic cover to operatives like Anas al-Sharif.The emirate’s interference doesn’t stop there. It funds radical movements across the region, destabilizing neighbors and prompting a Gulf Cooperation Council blockade in 2017. That blockade responded to Qatar’s ties with Iran, support for terrorist groups, and meddling in other nations’ internal affairs.Closer to home, Qatar has poured billions into American universities. Between 2021 and 2024 alone, it gave more than $2 billion, fueling a surge of “illiberal, anti-democratic sentiment” on campuses. At the same time, the United States maintains its largest Middle East air base, Al Udeid, in a country that bankrolls terror.That’s a strategic liability. Iran’s 2021 missile strike on Al Udeid — and later attacks during Operation Midnight Hammer — showed the base’s vulnerability. Meanwhile, thousands of U.S. troops and families stationed there effectively subsidize Qatar’s radicalism.President Trump’s February 4 proposal to relocate Gazans out of Gaza broke the stalemate. Critics howled, but the plan remains the only one that secures Israel, dismantles Hamas, and opens a path to reconstruction under new governance.Temporary relocation of Gazans to Qatar is the most viable option. This is not forced displacement. It recognizes that civilians cannot live in a war zone and that years of Qatari-backed Hamas indoctrination require deliberate de-radicalization. Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have refused refugees for exactly that reason. Qatar — the principal sponsor — should shoulder the burden.RELATED: The genocide that isn’t: How Hamas turned lies into global outrage Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty ImagesAt the same time, the United States should withdraw from Al Udeid and construct a state-of-the-art base in a rebuilt Gaza.That move would be more than symbolic — it would be strategic. A U.S. base in Gaza would guarantee security during reconstruction, prevent Hamas 2.0 from rising, and inject jobs, contracts, and services into the local economy. Gaza’s Mediterranean location also offers direct access to Africa, where China is expanding at America’s expense.This isn’t fantasy. It’s a workable blueprint: Arrest remaining Hamas leaders in Doha; relocate civilians to safety; rebuild Gaza free of terror-backed regimes; and establish a permanent U.S. presence that stabilizes rather than inflames.Protests will erupt. Denunciations will come. But serious problems demand serious solutions. Qatar must face consequences. Gaza must be freed from Hamas. And America must stop funding its own adversaries.

Tom Bancroft remembers the moment when the Disney magic began to wear off.During his career at the studio, the veteran animator had helped create characters from some of Disney's biggest '90s hits: Mushu the dragon from “Mulan” and Simba from “The Lion King," to name a few. He was living every aspiring animator's dream.'It hit me so strongly ... when kids pray from that point forward, this might be the Jesus they see in their heads.'He also defended the company from critiques that it was indifferent or even hostile to Christianity, saying Disney simply stayed true to the story and followed it wherever it might go.'Uncomfortable' truthThen he worked on a 2000 short film called “John Henry,” a tale of U.S. slaves who endured the “peculiar institution.”Faith, Bancroft tells Align, was “such an intrinsic part of that story,” something his storyboard animatics reflected. Disney brass disagreed.“’This makes me feel uncomfortable,’” he recalls the president of animation saying at the time about its spiritual themes. “It hit me like a ton of bricks," recalls Bancroft. "I didn’t see that coming. ... I’ve been telling everybody for years we were just staying true to the story ... we can have Mulan pray to her ancestors because that’s what they did in ancient China in that culture.”“Now, we come to Christianity, and you’re not comfortable. It was the first time I said, ‘There’s another side to this story,’” he said.“I didn’t know it then, but six months later, I [would leave] Disney ... I need[ed] to go use my talents and abilities for God more directly,” he says. Seeing the 'Light'Bancroft went on to work on the popular “Veggie Tales” franchise, as well as shows on the Christian Broadcasting Network. He's also written acclaimed books on animation, while co-hosting a popular animation podcast with his fellow animator — and twin brother — Tony.Now, he’s brought his Disney skills to a 2D animated feature film that captures the life of Jesus Christ in a bold new way.“Light of the World,” in theaters now, follows Christ’s story through the eyes of the youngest apostle, John (voiced by Benjamin Jacobson). That allows young viewers to experience Christ’s mission from a fresh, relatable perspective.The film may not hail from the Mouse House’s iconic studio, but critics are praising both its sensitive storytelling and gorgeous animation. Bancroft was able to glean critical tips from the “nine old men,” the core Disney animators who helped bring the studio’s inimitable artistry to life.“We get to put that emotion and that knowledge that we learned there [into the film] ... they were still passing down that wisdom to people like me and my brother [in the 1980s],” he says. Finding Jesus Bancroft played a role in bringing beloved Disney characters to life. Bringing Jesus to the big screen offered another, far more critical challenge.“I honestly would wake up in the middle of the night ... it hit me so strongly ... when kids pray from that point forward, this might be the Jesus they see in their heads,” he says, adding his team created a Jesus figure with a skin tone darker than some previous screen incarnations.The “Light of the World” Jesus posed another problem as a storyteller.“Thematically, as a character in a film ... [Jesus] doesn’t really work. You want to have arcs to a character ... he’s going to question himself, he’s going to try, and he’s going to fail, and then he’s going to succeed later ... you don’t have that with Jesus,” he says. “Thankfully, we had that with John.”RELATED: 'Elio' was lame. Making him gay wouldn’t change that Pixar/DisneyBible stories on a budgetWorking with Disney gave Bancroft access to money and resources that smaller, independent films can’t match.“We had at least 10 at-bats ... we can miss a few times, maybe even nine times, and get it on the 10th at every level,” he says, meaning storyboard creation, vocal performances, and animation.“I would do scenes over and over again until it was just right or just what the director wanted,” he says. “In an independent film, you have to get it right within the first one or two tries. You don’t get that many at-bats.”The benefits, as he sees them, are considerable.“You get to make the film you want to make,” he says, adding the film’s key financer, Matt McPherson, gave his team few guidelines beyond staying true to the Bible.“I’ve never in 35 years had that freedom to make a movie,” he says. “We were off to the races and were loving every minute of it.”Faith on the fast trackAnd he thinks more films like “Light of the World” are coming our way.The faith-friendly genre has expanded in recent years, from “The Chosen” to 2024’s “Sound of Freedom.” Major streamers like Amazon Prime and Netflix have embraced spiritual stories, partly due to positive reactions from customers.It’s show business, after all.Another big difference, he says, is financial. Now, experienced storytellers who may have found themselves outside Hollywood’s creative bubble like Bancroft are getting back in the game on their terms.“The money getting to the right people, honestly, has been the biggest difference. People don’t like to talk about that, but honestly, that’s how you make a change in Christian film,” he says.

A disturbing video of the murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, has been making the rounds on social media — leaving citizens frustrated that crime is so out of control in America.However, the mainstream media doesn’t view the attack the same way.“Let me tell you the angle that the mainstream media took. It wasn’t, ‘Horrible criminal who should have been behind bars murders innocent woman in Charlotte, North Carolina.’ It wasn’t that,” BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales says.Rather, publications like Axios have chosen to write headlines like, “Stabbing video fuels MAGA’s crime message.”“Yep, it’s those pesky MAGA Republicans once again. Those MAGA influencers. It might as well have said, ‘MAGA pounces on stabbing video to fuel their crime message.’ Like, make this make sense. So, in the article, the problem is not that we have crazy psycho murderers roaming the streets,” Gonzales says.“The problem is just MAGA influencers are drawing repeated attention to elevate the issue of urban crime and accuse mainstream media of uncovering shocking cases,” she continues, noting that it gets worse.“You only thought that that was the bottom. I haven’t hit the bottom yet. There is no bottom typically when it comes to these people, these despicable mainstream media hacks. ... It’s not just that they say that MAGA is elevating the issue of urban crime. It’s not that urban crime is elevating itself because it’s happening too frequently. That’s not it,” she explains.“The problem is security cameras,” she says, shocked.The Axios article reads, “The rising number of surveillance cameras in public spaces, including on Charlotte’s light rail, has become a big accelerant in these cases.”“The video is easily shared or leaked, and can instantly pollinate across social media — a visual counterpoint to statistics showing crime decreases,” a bullet under the article’s previous point reads.“So, the problem really is that surveillance cameras exist, and we shouldn’t have surveillance cameras because then ... if a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it actually happen?” Gonzales mocks.“Or is the problem you for deciding that we should have things like law and order in this country? Is the problem you for expecting too much, average citizen, who doesn’t like all of this crime happening around them?” she continues. “Maybe the problem is you. Certainly not the murderer, according to Axios.”Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Washington state police said they were able to thwart a mass school shooting plot by a teenager who had access to a large stockpile of guns and was preparing to pull the trigger on his scheme.The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said they received an "intelligence communication" about the alleged plot late on Friday and arrested the teenager on Saturday at a residence on 20th Ave.'It is clear it was only a matter of time before a tragic incident occurred.'Police performed a search warrant at the home with a SWAT team."The search has produced a large quantity of firearms that were both secured and unsecured. Loaded magazines with school shooter writings on them, and clothing and writings that would support a typical mass shooting scenario, were confiscated," the statement reads.They said the teenager had been enrolled at the Franklin Pierce School District in 2021 but is not currently an active student at any school district.Deputy Carly Cappetto told KING-TV that officials found 23 firearms and several ammunition boxes at the house. In addition, many of the firearms were illegal because they did not have serial numbers."It appeared the suspect had everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident," Cappetto explained while citing a "go bag" in the teen's bedroom with ammunition and AR-style magazines.RELATED: 2 thugs who kill man during robbery get shot by fourth man at apartment complex, police say "It is clear it was only a matter of time before a tragic incident occurred," she added.They also said that he posted images of himself on social media showing off guns.The teenager has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, unlawful possession of fireworks, and attempted threat to bomb or injure a school.The teen's parents have not been charged with anything, but the prosecutor may consider charges based on improper storage of firearms. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!