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Generous Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Will Prolong the War

(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - The message conveyed by the U.S. regarding the continuation of the war in Gaza is: Reduce the intensity of the fighting and increase humanitarian aid. However, each of these demands will hinder Israel in its efforts to topple Hamas' rule and destroy its military capabilities. Complying with them will only prolong the war and significantly increase the risks to our soldiers. The ceasefire has strengthened the morale of Hamas commanders and fighters, as well as their hopes for ending the war through some arrangement. The indirect negotiations with it, even after it had been compared to ISIS and the Nazis, have boosted its confidence. Hamas has also gotten points from the public in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem, thanks to its achievements in freeing prisoners from Israeli jails and its "struggle" against Israel. The expectation that Israel allow humanitarian aid to Gaza (and even increase it) is based on mistaken assumptions. The simple reality is that Hamas has taken over all the institutions and resources in Gaza, and has the support of most of its residents. To topple Hamas, our civilian leaders should seek to sever the links between Hamas and the various Gaza power centers in a way that the Hamas government would no longer be able to provide for the needs of its residents, will not be able to provide them with any services or enforce its rules on them. Massive humanitarian aid undermines this, as it exempts Hamas from its obligations towards its residents, thus sparing it from their anger and preventing the population from turning against it. The aid serves as a temporary solution and will prolong the war in every possible aspect. It is almost impossible to separate between "aid to citizens" and "aid to Hamas." Hamas can receive or take anything that enters the strip for its needs, regardless of the means of transfer or who delivers it. In this case, Israel should adopt a strict and minimalist approach: It should allow only the necessary assistance, and only when necessary, and only to the extent required. The writer, head of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem, served as Israel's national security advisor and head of the National Security Council.
2023-12-03 00:00:00
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