The Humanitarian Truce Called by Israel #Israel #Hamas #Gaza

The Humanitarian Truce Called by Israel

 #Israel #Hamas #Gaza 

      With 5 hours of peace, we have time to gasp a large enough amount of air to allow us to sort our the situation in Gaza. It continues to be clear, that despite widespread criticism of the blockade on Gaza and Civilian casualties resulting from Israelis defense from Hamas' rocket bombardment; that while the Israeli's take care to target valid military targets and avoid civilian casualties, Hamas indiscriminately fires rockets at civilian populations, even killing an innocent Israeli civilian. Fortunately, the Iron Dome, Israel's missile defense system is able to intercept the majority of the rockets fired with others simply missing. As we consider the ethical implications of such, we must remind ourselves that Israel is willing to stop its strikes on Hamas military targets and weapons cache's on one simple term, that Hamas stops firing rockets at Israeli border cities. Israel has no reason, and should not negotiate with Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, using political violence directed at civilians in an effort to persuade political attitude. Eventually, Hamas will run out of rockets, or Israel will march its tanks into Gaza, something we would all prefer to avoid. The surest way for the blockade to be removed, is for Hamas, to stop firing rockets, recognize Israel, denounce terror and stop using outside aid as a means of smuggling in weapons and explosives from Iran and other military supporters.

       While the creation of Israel undoubtedly caused a refugee crisis with lingering unresolved issues today, these realities have to be kept in the context of European history, particularly Nazi Germany and the holocaust, but also a history of Jewish persecution in Europe. It is important to remember that the amount of Palestinians displaced at the time of Israel's creation, was equal to the amount of Jews kicked out of Middle Eastern countries in retaliation. It has to be reminded that almost the entire middle east declared war against Israel on two separate occasions, and that both times the surrounding countries were humiliated in defeat, and that it was only then that Israel occupied the territories of Gaza and the West Bank for clear defensive military purpose. Despite ample available lands, few middle eastern countries, aside from Jordan, and to a lesser extent Lebanon, have done anything to accommodate or take in Palestinian populations. It also has to be reminded that the Israeli's have made stalwart efforts to provide for the Palestinians, continuing to extend the olive branch, considering two state solutions and even open to offering part of East Jerusalem. All of these items that Palestinians so need; however, need to be contingent on peace in Gaza and for that matter, the West Bank, and can be advanced with significant changes in the behavior of outside influences, particularly Iran, whose clandestine Qud's Forces are obviously providing the weapons to Hamas, just as they provided Al-Qaeda with weapons to kill Americans in Iraq and Hezbollah weapons to target the legitimate government in Beirut. The Palestinians have been used as pawn, for Arabian Princes with a sense of Islamic guilt for being wealthy benefactors of their governments' peace with Israel and oil sales to America, and an Iranian Republic looking to establish itself as the legitimate protector of the Muslim world while gaming its regional interests, not least of which include the wealthier oil fields of the Arabian Peninsula. While the International Community should engage with Israel to facilitate peaceful Palestinian/Israeli relations and address some of the humanitarian stresses at root, it cannot expect Israel to make concessions to Hamas while it launches rockets, flies drones and launches missiles at Israel. As these actions stop, Israel will stop its military operations. It is this simple, and the United States and the United Nations, should emphasize the fact that Hamas is behaving as terrorist organization, that the rocket attacks jeopardize not only Israeli civilians, but also will illicit a lethal response from Israel, a country with a very real need to protect itself and a fundamental right to self defense. The efforts on the part of Israel to use both restraint and precision, are the story, as they lay under siege from belligerents that have failed in the most basic capacity to govern Gaza.

Let us look at Hamas Policies, and how they have affected the well-being of Gaza residents.

1. Hamas has supported the launch of rockets over their border towards Israeli towns with intent to terrorize residents into either moving or increasing support for an end to the Gaza blockade.

The effect of this policy has been counter-productive, while Israeli residents in the border towns face the annoyance of bomb sirens and visits to bomb shelters, the Iron Dome military defense system as limited damage to one civilian death and limited structural damage. The attacks have hardened animosity towards Gaza residents who were once sympathetic to their suffering and supportive of a peaceful two state solution.

2. Hamas has used aid and material shipments to smuggle in guns, weapons, rockets, missiles and other bomb making materials.

The effect of this policy has resulted in the imposition of a blockade around Gaza, reducing the supply of weapons, but also construction materials, medical equipment and food supplies.

3. Hamas has attempted to use tunnels to smuggle in goods and weapons from Egypt.

The tunnels have been targeted in strikes, preventing the flow of weapons, but also reducing the flow of goods and at times killing civilians.

4. Hamas has reached out to surrounding Arab and Muslim countries to present violations of UN resolutions and norms as War Crimes and violations of international law.

    The Result has been that the UN is viewed with even less legitimacy and primarily delegated to the reduced role of a conduit for relief to Africa and the Middle East, rather than the primary forum for international law, relations and legitimate military action. The UN appears blatantly biased against the Israelis to the extent it seems anti-semitic, weakening its ability to mitigate disputes relating to not only Israel, but also the surrounding regions,  on nuclear proliferation and devastating humanitarian crisis promulgated by extended civil war in Syria that has contaminated Lebanon, Jordan and particularly Iraq.

    Hamas has failed the people of Gaza, it has only brought misery and death, and its policies as is, will always only bring misery and death. The people of Gaza cannot expect to garner empathy from the international community, while it calls for on God for the destruction of Israel, spreads social media hashtags such as #hitlerwasright and exalts suicide bombers as community heros. The people of Gaza need to change their attitudes and actions. Any weakness in resolve on the part of the West (or any responsible modern decision-maker), to begin justifying these types of pathetic tactics, sloppy operations and terroristic strategies needs to halt. Gaza is a mess because Hamas has inept leaders, enacting policies that will continue to bring misery to Gaza's populace and risk larger regional warfare that could easily escalate into a third world war.

    Hamas has to halt the weapons attacks, Israel should be considering demanding their whole sale surrender and escalating the conflict to get it, but taking the high route, is the better course for Israel diplomatically and strategically. Unlike Palestine, it is a real country with global public relations to consider. Its Iron dome protects it, but it must show that Israeli strikes are a response to Hamas aggression and being used to weaken Hamas' grip on the territory and ability to wage attacks. If Israel enters Hamas with its tanks, it must also bring behind them substantial humanitarian relief. To address the very real and authentic concerns about outside aid cargo hiding smuggled contraband used to attack Israeli civilians, the aid should be channeled through Israeli security review capabilities, with the involvement of Israeli charity organizations to direct it towards the appropriate parties in Gaza. The history of the Jews, prevents Israel from becoming the monster it left Europe to avoid, but it also must defend itself aggressively and take the lead on humanitarian relief for the Gaza population to undercut the legitimacy of Hamas, to prevent the continued flow of weapons into Gaza and most importantly, to show that they do care about the well-being of peaceful Gaza civilians.