"The center of gravity in such fighting is the civilian population, and if you push it into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat" – these remarks by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after the resumption of fighting in Gaza indicate the depth of the gap between Washington's view of Gaza and the familiar reality in Israel.
President Biden: "The United States stands with you - the people of Israel are alive!" // Reuters
The Biden administration's support for Israel is undeniable and deserves praise, but from the comments of its senior officials, it seems that their disregard for the scope of support and the depth of the public's identification with Hamas in Gaza leads them to adopt a position that will burden Israel with the continuation of the fighting.
Secretary of Defense Austin, like his colleagues at the top of the administration, assume that Hamas has taken control of Gaza, imposed itself on its population and is using it as a hostage in its struggle against Israel. All that is needed to change reality is to expropriate power from the organization and remove its burden from the necks of the citizens, who will turn to another path. This assumption, in contrast to alternative assumptions, provides a basis for optimism – and hence the temptation to embrace it.
His remarks indicate the depth of the gap between Washington's view of Gaza and the familiar reality in Israel. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Photo: AP.
The unfortunate truth is that Hamas enjoys broad political backing from the population of the Gaza Strip, which elected him in the past and might have elected him again. In the 2006 parliamentary elections – the last held in Gaza – Hamas won 76 out of 132 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Out of 24 seats in Gaza's five governorates, Hamas won 15.
Gaza's "People's Army"
Opinion polls conducted in recent years indicate continued public support for Hamas and the armed struggle against Israel. During its 17 years in power, Hamas has harnessed the education system and other governmental systems to disseminate its ideas and assimilate them among the public, at all levels. Thus, Hamas is deeply rooted in all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip. To a certain extent, it realizes the idea of a "people's army" and is an extension of a large and broad public in the struggle against Israel.
Terrorists from the Hamas terrorist organization in a military display and display of purpose on the border fence in the Gaza Strip opposite Israeli territory, photo: Majdi Fathi/TPS
It is not the Israeli action that will push the civilian population into the enemy's lap – a large part of it, if not the majority, is already there, voluntarily and voluntarily. Humanitarian generosity, beyond what is necessary and necessary, will also not change the public's taste. Presumably, the main beneficiaries will be Hamas members.
American expectations of Israel to reduce the intensity of the fighting and increase humanitarian aid will only lead to prolongation of the fighting and endanger the lives of our soldiers. Instead, it would be right to refrain from imposing additional restrictions and allow the IDF to operate at high intensity – until the collapse of the Hamas regime and the destruction of its capabilities. The complex challenge of de-radicalization in the Gaza Strip will occupy the region for many years after the war.
The writer is the head of the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us