The news is this – Israel appears poised to simply conquer Gaza. This appears to be the only course of action left to Israel that can produce a permanent peace as Hamas continues to hold both Israelis captured on October 7 and the non-militant citizens of Gaza hostage. Of course, objections are vociferous and plentiful. But such objections fail to see the actual war strategy of Hamas – a political strategy now implemented in war.
Liberals in America have for some time now been so obstinate in their demands and worked diligently to portray conservatives as ugly and cruel in their opposition that they have won victory after victory as conservatives have simply stepped down rather than do what has to be done – which would have indeed been harsh. Put another way, the strategy has been to force the opposition into a position where their only course of action towards victory was harsher than they were willing to be. Trump’s appeal is, in no small part, due to the fact that he is willing to do what has to be done, harsh though it may appear – wailing from liberals notwithstanding.
Why do you think all the press coverage of the despair in Gaza has stepped up? Are conditions harsh in Gaza? Of course they are, that is the nature of warfare. However, it is Hamas that is creating that cruelty, that harshness, because though defeated, they refuse to back down – thus forcing Israel’s hand. Ton upon ton of supplies have been dropped, only to be taken by Hamas and withheld from those in Gaza that need it most – purely so the can claim that Israel is deeply cruel.
There is coordination in the anti-Israeli coverage and protest. It is a propaganda campaign – and that media is falling for it makes their choosing sides in the Trump elections look downright tame. The latest story I find horrific – aerial footage of destruction in Gaza, compete with narration using words like “hellish.” If you know history, that footage is vaguely familiar, calling up images of London after the Blitz of Dresden after the firebombing, or Hiroshima after the bomb. This is not new, novel, or unique, this is war.
At some point, and it is quite clear that this is that point in Gaza, the question becomes how best to end the cruelty. The reason that this is that point is that Hamas will not let Gaza be peaceful. Sure, if Israel relents, they will let the aid through, but they will continue to hold the throttle and have already demonstrated they are not afraid to use it to control the populace of Gaza. If Israel laments it will leave Gaza in the hands that have created the cruelty and will not be afraid to do it again. Moreover, it will leave Gaza in the hands of the people that will use Gaza as a base to once again build itself to the point that atrocities like October 7 can be repeated.
Conquering Gaza will be ugly. Many people, including many Israelis, will die. Others will be permanently disabled and maimed. It will not be pretty – but it will produce a better result for the people of Gaza than leaving it in the hands of Hamas – all the death and damage between now and then notwithstanding. This is the same logic that lead to the wartime use of nuclear weapons. History has shown that the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki notwithstanding – the war was shortened and fewer people died than had the Bomb not been used.
Controlling Gaza will be quite costly to Israel, dearly costly. It is a cost they would just as soon not bear, but Hamas has left them no choice. We should remember that they will bear that cost not just for themselves, but for the sake of the average citizen of Gaza, who will undoubtedly resent it. But at least they will live in peace and be able to rebuild.
There is a special, unique and utterly evil cruelty to a combatant that does not know when it is beaten. A combatant that maintains the fight, with all the collateral destruction it produces, well beyond the point where it has been defeated. It is a form of self-absorption that utterly disregards anything else. Should we regret the collateral destruction? Absolutely, but we need to remember that it is not Israel creating the destruction, it is Hamas who could simply, give up.
