Erin Molan: A role model and modern Righteous Gentile

For her, there’s nothing that could be more black-and-white in the fight of good against evil. She does not hold back in expressing that reality, clearly and succinctly making the case as to why.

Her first visit to Israel, which came after Oct. 7, was life changing. Molan witnessed the aftermath of the atrocities at kibbutzim, solidifying her stance. She was struck by the horrors but also by the resilience of Israelis. She cited the example of seeing a woman tending the rosebushes at the home of one of the hostages, as well as the volunteers from Israel and abroad who were rebuilding destroyed communities, reflecting a spirit of hope amidst devastation.

The independent broadcaster understands that Israel is a thriving democratic nation fighting for survival against an enemy that seeks its annihilation, which Hamas’s charter explicitly calls for. She believes that Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, despite the terrorist group’s use of human shields, underscore the Jewish state’s moral high ground. This also resonates from the perspective of her father, who served as chief of operations in the coalition forces in Iraq.

Molan’s condemnation of Hamas is uncompromising. She called them “sadistic, evil, murderous” terrorists who derive joy from civilian suffering, as evidenced by raw footage she viewed of Oct. 7. She is clear that Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for the suffering in Gaza, pointing to Hamas’s strategy of embedding military operations in civilian areas to maximize casualties and manipulate global opinion. “Hamas is killing kids in Gaza,” she stated, criticizing media narratives that obscure this reality by framing Israel’s defensive actions as unprovoked.

Insisting that the conflict could end if Hamas released the hostages and disarmed, Molan places the onus squarely on the terrorist group for the ongoing war and suffering. Her frustration with the world’s failure to universally condemn Hamas drives her advocacy, as she believes that its ideology threatens not just Israel but global democratic values. “I can see good versus evil, and I don’t think it’s complicated at all,” she said. “Every death, every casualty, every single life that’s been lost in the Middle East since Oct. 7 lies squarely and solely in the hands of Hamas and the people who fund them.”

Making this truth more vivid, and inhumane, she noted the “utter elation” displayed by Hamas terrorists during their acts of violence.

Molan is passionate about calling on others to support Israel, viewing it as a fight for civilization itself. She sees that the threat of terrorism, exemplified by Hamas, extends beyond Israel to countries like her native Australia, where she fears that her seven-year-old daughter could face a future marred by extremist ideologies. “This threat is here. It’s in all our countries,” she warned, noting that terrorists “don’t care” about their victims’ identities.

The Israel advocate has criticized many media outlets for biased reporting, such as omitting Hamas’s role in casualty figures, framing Israel’s actions as unprovoked, and highlighting the case of a terrorist released from Israeli prison after murdering innocent civilians as a long-awaited family reunion. After her dismissal from Sky News Australia, she stated, “When hate is allowed to fester, we all lose; when stupidity isn’t called out, it becomes very dangerous.”

She has made it her mission to reach the “mainstream middle” who are misled by biased media narratives, citing an example of a Queensland miner whose perspective shifted after watching her videos. She’s not trying to force agreement but to present facts, allowing others to align their values with the truth.

Molan’s Catholic upbringing also shaped her worldview. While she drifted from organized religion in her 20s, her experiences post-Oct. 7, which included a visit to the Western Wall, rekindled her spiritual journey. Despite suffering personal and professional losses, she placed a note in the wall that simply read, “Thank you,” reflecting her gratitude rooted in her faith. Her Christian values – compassion, justice, and integrity – guide her advocacy. As a mother, she is equally concerned about the well-being of both Israeli and Palestinian Arabs, and the future for their children.

At one point, in a YouTube monologue addressing Pope Francis, she emphasized that the war could end if Hamas released the hostages and disarmed, underscoring that its actions – specifically by embedding its operations in civilian areas – are the root cause of suffering in Gaza. The pope was criticized for appearing to equivocate and not condemn Hamas unambiguously, asserting that Israeli actions were at the root of the problem. She would have none of that, not even from the Vatican.

Molan’s father, who died in 2023 and was a revered Australian military leader and senator, was and remains her moral beacon. His experiences commanding coalition forces in Iraq, where he prioritized minimizing civilian casualties, taught her the importance of maintaining moral standards in conflict. “If we lower ourselves to who they are, what are we fighting for?” he told her once, a lesson she applies to Israel’s fight against Hamas.

Despite his being labeled a “war criminal” by protesters, her father’s resilience and clarity of purpose inspired and prepared his daughter to face similar vilification. His legacy as a principled leader, coupled with his support for Israel, lives on in her. She vows to ensure that he “never dies twice,” by keeping his name and values alive.

Her father remains such a strong presence in her life, that on that pivotal day, Oct. 7, 2023, when dark was never darker, Molan understood that she needed to broadcast a light of truth to overcome the darkness, just like he did. She instinctively reached for her phone to call him, a testament to his guiding influence.

Molan’s vocal advocacy has come at a cost: death threats, job loss, and personal strain as a mother for the physical safety and the values of the world her daughter will grow up in. Yet, she remains steadfast, driven by her father’s example and her commitment to her daughter’s future.

She recounted a poignant moment in Israel when an IDF soldier gave her an Israeli flag from his uniform, crediting her videos for boosting morale among troops who felt misunderstood and abandoned by the world. That interaction, among others, underscores her impact in providing comfort and clarity to those on the front lines.

Molan closed the conversation passionately, saying, “It’s an honor and a privilege to stand with you and your people, and I will do so for the rest of my life,” she promised. Her journey, marked by personal sacrifice and resilience, positions her as a modern Righteous Gentile, standing boldly for justice and truth for Israel and the Jewish people, despite significant backlash threatening her livelihood, and even her life.

Throughout all her media presence, speaking, and platforms, Erin Molan continues to challenge narratives, inspire action, and amplify a message of moral courage. 