Israel is facing loud and widespread criticism for its assault, bombing, destruction and the loss of Palestinian civilian lives, including thousands of children and women. I too am troubled by Israeli bombing and the indiscriminate loss of life of Gaza's children, men and women and the destruction of their homes. Is this the price for revenging Hamas's barbaric massacre of Israeli citizens, women and children? I support ceasing the bombing and providing humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza. Israel needs to find another war strategy in its war against Hamas, one that minimizes harm to Gaza's citizens.
Hamas has to be eradicated, it is a murderous political and terrorist organization with a ruthless, barbaric medieval ideology. It seeks to destroy Israel, to kill Israelis, men, women and children. It is an obstacle to regional peace and to the relationship normalization between Israel and its neighbours. Hamas has diverted international aid to Gaza aimed at improving Gaza's life by building tunnels rather than houses for its citizens. It is indifferent to Palestinian hardships. It hides behind Gaza civilians and uses them as a shield in its war against Israel.
Israel on its part, while forcefully fighting Hamas, needs to have a plan for the day after the war. It should not wage a revenge war, even if it is difficult not to, after Hamas atrocities, but it should not. We Israelis must not lose our humanity in this war, we need to recognize the Palestinian right to live in peace in their state alongside the state of Israel. This should be the strategic objective of this war. Eliminating Hamas is an essential part of this objective, but how it is done matters for the future Palestinian-Israeli relationship. IDF has warned Gaza civilians, and created a temporary humanitarian ceasefire corridors to assist the move to the safer southern part of the Gaza Strip. Perhaps that is more than any other army has done in past conflicts. But more needs to be done by Israel to avoid harming civilians. Water, medicines, and hospital services should be available to the civil population and the bombing needs to stop now.
Middle East is a tough region to live in and Israel needs to be strong and tough to survive and deal with adversaries like Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, I hope that Israel can do that while upholding elemental humanitarian values.
Let me close this note with an observation that occurred to me while writing this post. While the condemnations of Israel's heavy-hand response are widespread, I have not seen worldwide condemnation, outrage and demonstrations against Hamas. It is all about Israel and its heavy-hand war strategy against Hamas. You may say that Hamas is a terrorist organization, not a state? But Hamas governs over more than 2 million Palestinians; it is a political entity that rules and provides civil services to the Gaza population. It also promotes and wages war against Israel and funds the building of tunnels rather the houses for its citizens. Hamas started this war with a horrific, barbaric, massacre of Israeli citizens. Hamas continues holding hostage Israeli women and elderly civilians, Hamas continues rocket fire on Israeli towns while hiding behind Palestinian civilians, knowingly putting them at risk.
Why there is not a World-wide condemnation of Hamas? Why there are no massive demonstrations in Paris, London or Washington against Hamas? Why the Palestinians do not rise against Hamas?