“In Awakening to Radical Islamist Evil, Monty Penkower has produced a 'rough first draft of history' full of erudition, humanity and written with passion. Few of the protagonists in this conflict escape his razor-sharp pen as he disentangles the complex story of the Gaza war. His sympathy is directed to its innocent victims, both Jews and non-Jews. By any measure, this is a masterful and authoritative account of the first 177 days of the Hamas war against Israel and the Jews and essential reading for anyone wishing to understand Israel's right to defend itself.”

— Anthony McElligott, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Limerick, Ireland

“Monty Penkower’s richly detailed and scrupulously documented chronicle of Hamas’ war against Israel and the Jews makes for a necessary if sobering reading. Drawing upon his lifetime of scholarship, Penkower cuts through the inevitable fog of war and provides invaluable narrative and primary source material for all future students of the subject.”

—Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun. Professor of American Jewish History (emeritus), Brandeis University

"In this third volume of his account of Hamas' war against Israel, Monty Penkower examines the period from October 2024 to April 2025  in an impressive demonstration of his  grasp on detail. The pace is fast, the narrative is gripping, the stories humane, and the analysis razor sharp. If there are heroes, they are the ordinary persons on the ground caught in one way or another in the conflict and not the politicians. Few historians would venture to write history as it is being made, but Penkower has, and he shows how it can be done. A masterful account." 

— Professor Gil Troy, Distinguished Scholar in North American History, McGill University and Senior Fellow in Zionist Thought, Jewish People Policy Institute,  Jerusalem