When Hamas committed the unthinkable atrocities of October 7, it was the last straw for Israel; Hamas must be militarily and politically neutralized and Gaza must have a new Palestinian government. In these five months the Israeli offensive that began in Gaza City has pushed Hamas southward through Khan Younis to Rafah at the Egyptian border destroying all tunnels and military infrastructure while costing significant combatant and civilian casualties. Many Gazans seeking refuge from the fighting now find their backs to the fence at the Egyptian border.
There are three ways to minimize the coming carnage.
(1) Israel could respect international calls for pauses, cease-fires, and increment hostage release, but they won’t. Don’t underestimate their resolve to remove Hamas.
(2) Hamas could surrender, but they won’t. This is their last stand, their Waterloo.
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(3) Egypt could open the Gaza border to receive non-combatants and provide humanitarian aid to their Arab-speaking Moslem brethren, but they won’t.
The last one is inexplicable to me.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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