This post is also about the continuing war between Hamas and Israel. The latest spasm of violence has, apparently, ended with yet another cease-fire agreement. To me, this means Hamas has achieved at least part of the objectives of going back to open combat again. All Israel has to show for this round, so far, is a temporary halt in the rain of rockets on Israeli citizens. I’ve not seen any guarantees that another round of extortion, pay-up or get rockets, won’t start again as soon as the Hamas munitions are replenished.
I’ve mentioned before that one goes to war for a political objective. Israel doesn’t seem to have one. Hamas, on the other hand, sees this a victory. The whole idea behind a spasm of violence is to make the other side accede to your demands. Hamas has regularly chosen to fire a bunch of rockets in order to grab international attention. This time they fired almost 500 in a very short period of time. I don’t know if they have a much larger arsenal, but it isn’t important. They had enough to both grab the headlines and get Israel to agree to stop bombing them. The comment I made a day or so ago is still valid. Hamas shoots rockets (or launches fire balloons, or demonstrates at the separation fence, or digs tunnels, or whatever) and when Israel responds, the attacks are on empty buildings and installations. Hamas calls for a cease-fire and says they don’t want escalation. Israel agrees. Has Hamas deterred Israel from using military action? Maybe. What is certain is that Israeli citizens have been subjected to terror and uncertainty and the price paid by Hamas has been minimal.
Hamas has played the “humanitarian crisis” card before. The result is that Israel goes to great efforts to avoid civilian casualties and continues the flow of supplies into Hamas controlled areas without interruption, Hamas seems to be trying a Death of a Thousand Cuts strategy to bring about the destruction of Israel. I don’t think either side has any idea of what they are really doing. I am sure, however, that for Israel to allow Hamas to stay in power doesn’t amount to a real long-term solution. Life for ordinary Gazans is miserable. Is there a way to allow them to escape this existence without Hamas gaining credit? If there is, it should be tried.
Wetherhorn 