|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-809017
Experts: Hamas's "Complete Defeat" Is Necessary to Achieve a Sustainable "Day After" in Gaza
(Jerusalem Post) Zina Rakhamilova - Nine months into the Gaza war, Hamas has been significantly weakened to the point where experts say it cannot repeat Oct. 7 again and, according to Nadav Eyal in Yediot Ahronot, over 95% of Hamas's rockets are gone. Still, if Israel stopped the war today, Hamas would likely recruit more terrorists and replenish its arms. Dr. Netta Barak-Corren, a Professor of Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Law, Ethics, and Public Policy Fellow at Princeton's University Center for Human Values, has worked with a number of her colleagues on suggestions for the "day after" in Gaza. The group of professionals looked into the successes and failures of rebuilding and transforming nations that were once consumed by authoritarian, ideologically extremist, and murderous regimes. The experts reiterate that Hamas's "complete defeat" is necessary to achieve a sustainable strategy. The first component of "complete defeat" would mean Hamas losing sovereignty over the territory in Gaza. The second component must be a complete loss of control to avoid a situation like Lebanon where Hizbullah doesn't technically govern but maintains control in almost every element of Lebanese life. Lastly, public trials, similar to the Nuremberg trials, must be administered to senior Hamas perpetrators. Hamas is fighting to maintain sovereignty and control of Gaza, knowing the moment it loses that, it has nothing. They are hoping that an "end date" is set, the way it was in Afghanistan, which allowed the Taliban to take back control. It is impossible to defeat ideas such as hatred and racism - they will always be there, but we can defeat how much space they take up in society. We have to be responsible, patient, and careful when we plan a future for Gaza and must ensure that the new governance structure promotes peace and stability, preventing the resurgence of extremist ideologies.