LOS ANGELES.–Israeli Defense Forces continue the Gaza offensive against growing international pressure for them to end the war. “We are intensifying our activity in accordance with the established plan,” said Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir, serving notice that the job in Gaza isn’t done until Hamas surrenders to leaves the territory. What doesn’t the international community, at the U.N. or in the European Union, get that they must apply maxium pressure on Hamas to get out of Gaza. No U.N. or EU official, whether an Arab state or not, has demanded that Hamas leave the Gaza Strip. So, when it comes to ending war, all the suffering of Palestinians, where the support from Arab states, U.N. and EU to end the war. Everyone knows that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has only one objective in Gaza: To drive Hamas out. So, where is the support from the world community?
Hamas has been holed out in military tunnels built with Gaza’s reconstruction funds but winding up in Hamas hands. Hamas has only one goal in Gaza, after seeking most of their senior leadership killed in the last year, which is to hold on to power. No one thinks that Hamas can be trusted with any reconstruction funds knowing the 20-year history of plundering the Gaza Strip to enrich its past leaders. “Hamas is under immense pressure. It has lost most of its assets and its command and control,” Zamir said to troops in Khan Younis, an area in the very south of the territory. If the global community wants to stop the killing of innocents caught in the crossfire of war they need to apply pressure on Hamas to get out of Gaza. Once Hamas is gone, the reconstruction can start with the U.S. playing a major role. Trump said he wants to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East, better than Monaco.”
Trump has no doubt that with enough international backing reconstructing Gaza can take place but only if Hamas is rooted out. Where are strong voices from the U.N. and EU demanding that Hamas get out of Gaza? “We will deploy every tool at our disposal to bring the hostages home, dismantle Hamas and dismantle its rule,” said Zamir. Israel doesn’t want to waste its military resources indefinitely in a senseless war in Gaza. There’s a growing consensus in Israel that they want the war over, not a perpetual war. “This is not an endless war. We aim to end it by achieving its objectives,” Zamir said. Israel refutes all of Hamas propaganda that Israel engages in a genocide against the Palestinian people. Hamas exaggerates, casualties with especially women and children. Israeli Defense forces only targets militants but they’re routine use civilians as human shields.
No one wants the war to continue certainly not Israel. But Egypt and Qatar have taken a neutral stance on any negotiation with Hamas, knowing they’d like to keep the doors open for continuing ceasefire negotiations. So far, Hamas has demanded that Israel engage in an unconditional ceasefire, removing all its forces from Gaza before it releases more hostages. Netanyahu has served notice to Egyptian and Qatar that Hamas must leave the Gaza Strip before he can end the war. No one wants to end the war more than Netanyahu, since the war does nothing but put Israeli forces in harm’s way. Netanyahu takes no pleasure in collateral damage but must do what’s necessary for Israeli national security. Since the Oct. 7 massacre, killing 1,200 Israeli and taking 251 hostages, Netanyahu hasn’t wavered in his determination to eliminate Hamas in Gaza.
Foreign countries could be a big help in resolving the year-and-a-half war by applying pressure to Hamas to take exile deals and leave Gaza. “We’re aiming for a decisive defeat of Hamas, and well will achieve it with determination and precision, and while ensuring the safety of your troops,” said Zamir. Hamas like to publicize the worst possible casualties like doctors killed in a strike on a Khan Younis hospital. Hamas uses hospitals and other civilian structures as command-and-control centers, presenting problems for the IDF. Getting the precise intel on the whereabouts of Hamas leaders hasn’t been easy. But Netanyahu just announced that Hamas leader in Gaza Mohammed Siwar was neutralized in massive air strike. Israel eliminated mastermind of Oct. 7 Yahya Sinwar Oct. 17, 2024. Iran continues to fund Hamas and provide long-range missiles to strike Israel.
Israeli Defense Forces have closed in on remaining pockets of armed Hamas militants, eliminating as many as possible while going after what remains of leadership inside Gaza’s tunnel network. What’s left of Hamas leadership has a single-minded focus to kill as many Jews as it can with the help of Iran or any other backer. Not one Arab state has gone to rescue Hamas or fought in support of their cause to destroy Israel. Most Arab states know the consequences of war with Israel and have no interest in destroying their countries. Hamas has sympathy in the Sunni world but that’s about all. They all watched Hezbollah’s Shiite Supreme Leader Hassan Nasrallah liquidated Sept. 27, 2024, one foolish lapse that left him vulnerable to a targeted Israeli air strike. So when it comes to Hamas backing the Arab world, they have none, other than feckless condemnation of Israel.
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.