Looking at the endgame for the current Hamas-Israel war, Israeli Prime Minister clarified remarks made about eventual government supervision in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu was talking about what happens after Hamas has been removed from Gaza governance, saying the Israel would have to temporarily step in to provide vital services to Gaza residents. Palestinians screamed that Netaanyahu was trying to “occupy” Gaza, something far removed from reality. Contrary to Palestinian and media reports, Israel wants no part of occupying Gaza, only removing Hamas from power. “We don’t seek to conquer Gaza, we don’t seek to occupy Gaza and we don’t seek to govern Gaza,” Netanyahu said Nov. 9. Israeli Defense Forces are moving methodically through Hamas’ elaborate tunnel system and elsewhere in Gaza City to dismantle Hamas leadership, unfortunately taking it into hospitals and other civilian settings.
Hamas embeds its leadership office in hospitals, U.N. offices, schools, day care centers and other structures ordinarily off limits to any government use. For practical purposes based on the degree of IDF operations, Netanyahu was trying to reassure Gaza citizens that Israel would do anything possible to provide basic services to Gaza residents, once Hamas is removed. Israel turned over Gaza Sept. 24, 2005 to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority [PA], seized within two years June 14, 2007 by Hamas. Before the Sept. 24, 2005 turn over to the PA, Gaza was occupied by Israel from June 14, 1967, after the Six Day War. Before that, Egpyt controlled the Gaza Strip from 1920 to 1967. Before Egypt’s control in 1920, the Gaza Strip was managed by the Ottoman Turks for over 500 years. So when it comes to occupation, Israel has no interest in managing the Mediterranean seaside enclave.
No U.N. or Arab state has admitted publicly that Hamas can no longer rule Gaza, giving their Oct. 7 genocidal attack on Israel. Beyond the attack, Hamas has been plundering the resources of the Gaza Strip for the last 17 years, fighting four wars with Israel, all resulting in the widespread destruction before eventual ceasefires. Arab Gulf States have given Hamas billions, as much as $100 billioin, over the last 17 years, all squandered on corruption, buying arms and building tunnels to fulfill Hamas’ fantasy that they’ll destroy Israel. After the Oct. 7 massacre, Hamas and Iran boasted how weak the Israel government, that victory was in sight. What does Hamas say know that Gaza has been destroyed again and Hamas leadership has been driven into hiding, hoping to survive the latest onslaught? U.N. officials must stop condemning Israel’s assault on Hamas and look to the future.
U.N. officials refuse to admit that Hamas can no longer rule Gaza. Not only because they’re committed to destroying Israel and killing all Jews but because they’ve ripped off Gazan citizens for years, stealing resources to advance their radical agenda. Instead of spending on arms to destroy Israel, Hamas could have invested in infrastructure, building electricity, water, sewage, telecommunications services to increase the standard of living for Gaza citizens. If Hamas had a peace treaty with Israel over the last 17 years, Israel would have worked with Hamas to create jobs-and-industry, building a brighter future for Gaza residents. U.N. and Arab League officials should stop vilifying Israel and start calling for Hamas to step aside, letting the Palestinian Authority return to manage the Gaza Strip. Without Hamas as the impediment to progress, there’s no limit to what could be done.
Netanyahu has been so demonized by the U.N. and Arab League, they have no clue how he would be willing to work toward Gaza’s reconstruction. “I think Israel will, for an indefinite period, will have the overall security responsibility, because we’ve seen what happen when we not have it,” Netanyahu told ABC News. “When we don’t have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn’t imagine. U.S. and U.N. officials have been timid about admitting that Hamas cannot return to rule the Gaza Strip or anywhere else in Palestinian society. White House officials, while playing their cards close to the vest, know that Hamas cannot return to power. “We’re having active discussions with our Israeli counterparts about what post-Gaza conflict looks like,” said White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said.
Time has come for U.N., Arab League and other officials to say that Hamas can no longer rule Gaza. Hamas fixed the elections in 2005 to take legitimacy from the PA in running the Gaza Strip. “The president maintains his position that reoccupation by Israeli force is no the right thing to do,” said Kirby, knowing that Israel has no intention of reoccupying Gaza. U.S. officials walk a tightrope condemning civilian deaths while knowing that the Hamas Ministry of Health are not reliable reporters on Gaza casualties or anything else. Whether admitted to or not, Biden has given Netanyahu the green light to end Hamas rule over Gaza. How the post-Hamas era pans out is anyone’s guess. White House officials know that they can’t leave a power vacuum in Gaza, requiring some interim government to protect against more terrorists and possible anarchy. U.N. should be brainstorming with the White House.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
