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Hamas and Israel: What Next?

(Gatestone Institute) Amir Taheri - On October 7 (10/7), Israel experienced its version of America's 9/11. However, Israel's 10/7 is worse than 9/11 in the U.S. The al-Qaeda attack claimed 3,000 lives while Israel mourns over 1,300 lives lost. Adjusted for population, Israel lost the equivalent of 48,000 U.S. citizens in one day. 7/10 has ended the status quo that had taken shape between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hamas has been in a position to totally ignore the needs of people living in Gaza. Essential needs such as food, education and health care are covered by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), over 100 NGOs from some 30 countries, and frequent donations from countries wishing to show solidarity with Palestinians. In some cases, foreign donors even pay the salaries of the personnel in the local administration. Thanks to "gifts" from "certain friendly powers," Hamas and its partner, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, don't even have to buy their arms. Hamas doesn't want just territory, because Israel had already evacuated Gaza in 2005. Hamas, as its charter clearly states, is not in the business of nation-building: what it seeks is the elimination of Israel, something that Israelis are unlikely to offer. The latest Hamas attack restores the old image of Palestinians as terrorists and hostage-takers. The writer was the executive editor-in-chief of the daily Kayhan in Iran from 1972 to 1979.
2023-10-17 00:00:00
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