Israel is planning to do what it must: occupy Gaza militarily
During the discussion, the Chief of Staff said: “We are on the path to defeating Hamas, and this will also contribute to the effort to bring back the hostages.” According to the source, the plan includes conquering the Gaza Strip, maintaining a military presence, relocating the civilian population in Gaza southward for its own safety, crippling Hamas’ ability to distribute humanitarian aid, and delivering powerful blows [against the] terrorist organization, measures aimed at breaking its hold on the Strip.
The difference is the “maintaining a military presence” part – that is, holding territory. Apparently the ill-fated decade-and-a-half-plus experiment in Gazan independence is over for now.
There is also this: “The prime minister added that he is continuing to promote the Trump Plan to allow for the voluntary emigration of Gazans, and that discussions on the issue are underway with several countries.” No one wants the truculent, trouble-making Gazans, although they might express rhetorical sympathy. Palestinians have sowed discord and destabilization in the countries to which they’ve emigrated in large groups previously.
In the past I’ve featured many videos by Caroline Glick. A couple of months ago, however, she stopped putting out those videos and took a position with Netanyahu’s government as International Affairs Advisor. It is in that position that she spoke a few weeks ago to JNS, and I was struck by the resolve she expressed that is in line with the policy I just described. Here’s her speech; it’s not very long and I’ve cued up what I consider the heart of her message:
I don’t think any of this would be happening if Kamala Harris had been elected.
Arabs had their chances in Gaza. They blew it. They will be gone soon, because the UN will lose the funding required to support them,and will never be allowed back.
Planning to do what should have been done ab initio, but was not, because the planners were more focused on ridding the Israeli govt of Bibi and Co., than on executing a winning strategy to put an end to the trouble once and for all. Some necessary purges in the higher echelons now having taken place (with others soon to follow) the IDF can slowly begin the long trudging path back to sanity, and success.
So now they will be occupied.
Thank you for posting.
Genius move on Netanyahu’s part to bring her on board.
Inarguable.
I don’t think any of this would be happening if Kamala Harris had been elected.
No disagreement from me. Recall that last year Kamala told Israel, “Don’t go into Rafa.” She then congratulated Israel when it decapitated Hamas and/or Hezbollah–which Israel couldn’t have done if it had followed Kamala’s advice to not go into Rafa.
In the leadup to October 7, Israel mistakenly thought that, due to a term of quiet, Hamas had abandoned its goal of the destruction of Israel. October 7 put paid to that. The Hamas declaration that Israel could expect more attacks like that of October 7 merely dotted the i and crossed the t : “Israel be gone” was definitely what Hamas wanted.
An opinion poll taken soon after October 7 showed that the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank were in agreement with Hamas. AWRAD: Public Opinion Poll – Gaza War 2023 – Tables of Results November 14,2023
The polling results indicate that “from the River to the Sea Palestine will be free” is best interpreted that the goal of “free Palestine” means that Palestine be Judenrein–free of Jews.
Recall that MEMRI had recorded Arafat telling Arab groups that the “two state solution” Arafat told the West he supported was but an interim stage, a hudna.
While Israel hoped that Hamas had decided on peaceful coexistence, Hamas wanted war. Unfortunately for Hamas, the results of the war weren’t what they wanted.
I wonder if Israel’s long-term occupation of Gaza will entail piecemeal destruction of all the tunnels. The tunnels didn’t stop the IDF much, did they?
The issue will be finding countries that are willing to take the Gazans. I imagine that after a year of living in tents, many Gazans are more than willing to leave. But as Neo says, they “have sowed discord and destabilization” wherever they have gone in large numbers.
I am reminded of a Christmas card my mother got the year before she died in 1988. A Palestinian Christian who had been a dinner guest at our home informed my mother that he was living with his daughter and son-in-law in Kuwait. That didn’t end well.
When will they ever learn?
In a strange way Israel is by public efforts showing the US the best path available. Before various paths were only shown by an anti- American coalition. No more!
“Unfortunately for Hamas, the results of the war weren’t what they wanted.“
Sounds like that SHOULD be correct, but I’m not sure it is.
That is, this is EXACTLY what Hamas wants.
Think about it: the goal is not necessarily self preservation; the goal is the destruction of the Zionist Entity…BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
To western ears, this seems counter-intuitive. In fact it seems insane.
BUT… “we love death” and “you love life”…and it is PRECISELY THIS combination—along with the support Hamas is getting from HUGE swaths of the world, particularly—but not only the West—that gives Hamas Hope…perhaps even Certainty…of achieving its GOAL.
Consider, too, Pope Benedict’s essential reissue of the points made in the letter written by the Eastern Pope to the Islamic Ottoman leaders threatening Constantinople.
The question is: when threatened with destruction by an implacable and unrelenting enemy, can an individual, or country, find the fortitude—and resolve—to not merely resist that enemy, which resistance would NOT be sufficient, but actually destroy it? (Moreover, would the oh-so-moral world community permit it? That is, by taking the necessary step to self-preservation, would Israel—in this particular case—be guaranteeing its own destruction?)
I’ve said it several times in the past and I’ll say it again: Arafat was a sheer genius.
File under: The ultimate game of chicken.
I’m rather surprised and perturbed that after 18 months there are still Hamas irregulars at large and the tunnels are still operational.
Art Deco: “… there are still Hamas irregulars at large ”
Partly because of Hamas’ “some hostages for many prisoners” exchange policy.
Simply evil. Successful evil.
About the tunnels: such a shame Hamas had so much time. And Iran plus anti-Jews world wide funding them.
Art Deco
I’m rather surprised and perturbed that after 18 months there are still Hamas irregulars at large and the tunnels are still operational.
300 miles of tunnels constitute a LOT to destroy.
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