As of: February 15, 2024, 10:56 a.m
By: Marc Beyer
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A girl pushes a cart loaded with jerry cans as she walks past the rubble of a building destroyed during the Israeli bombardment in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, February 14, 2024.
(afp) © MOHAMMED ABED
Israel's relentless war against Hamas brought destruction to the Gaza Strip.
A former resident of Gaza reports on his experiences there and about the current situation in Rafah.
Munich - Until December, Usama Antar lived in the Gaza Strip and headed the local office of the SPD-affiliated Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
He was then able to leave with the help of the German embassy.
For around 20 years he carried out projects to promote democracy in the enclave under the most adverse circumstances.
The political scientist, who studied and received his doctorate in Münster, is directly affected by the escalation in the Israel War.
Part of his family lives in the crowded southern Gaza Strip, where Israel is escalating its attacks.
The latest news from the Rafah region sounds dramatic.
What do you hear from there?
Everything points to an invasion taking place in the next few days.
The recent rescue of two hostages in Rafah could mean that more similar actions will occur.
This came as a surprise to the Hamas people; they will now be even more vigilant.
This makes these missions even more difficult and dangerous for the remaining hostages.
The chance of them returning home alive has decreased significantly.
Civilians in Danger – No evacuation from Rafah possible
What do you conclude from?
This war no longer has an ethical basis.
That's why you have to expect the worst.
The civilians suffer.
What options do the Palestinians in the south of the Gaza Strip have to reach safety?
Israel makes no effort to protect civilians.
It does not allow them to leave the Rafah region to the north again.
They also do not allow enough relief supplies.
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Does Israel believe this will hit Hamas?
Hamas has nothing to do with it.
This is a war against civilians and only incidentally against Hamas - that is the belief of the people there.
What do you make of Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he would grant civilians a “safe corridor”?
The people followed Israel's call to go south.
Now they must also have the opportunity to leave there, back to their homes in the north, in the hope that they are not completely destroyed.
Then Israel can do whatever it wants.
People don't support Hamas, they detest it.
Over 90 percent hate Hamas.
All they care about now is their own life, which Netanyahu doesn't care about in their eyes.
The Israeli military says it found large quantities of weapons and explosives in the UN organization's headquarters, which was abandoned by UNRWA in mid-October.
© Omar Ishaq/dpa
Egypt does not want to appear to be cooperating with Israel
Do you think Egypt will still open its border?
No, never, ever.
The Egyptian president fears that in this case he will be seen at home as a collaborator who is cooperating with Israel to promote the expulsion of the Palestinians.
Are you hearing about specific fates from the south these days?
I have relatives there, sisters, cousins.
They want to get out, but don't have enough money to afford the exit fees.
$5,000 per person, or up to $30,000 for a family of six.
What kind of aid do people get?
Very, very little, maybe ten percent of what is needed.
Some of these relief supplies are now being stolen and then resold at ten times the price.
Hamas well prepared: “Only the ordinary people” have to suffer
Who is behind it?
Some thieves who attack the trucks as soon as they cross the border.
The distribution of goods has become very difficult.
The UN aid organization UNRWA can no longer fulfill this task after the serious allegations.
Is the accusation that some of the goods end up directly with Hamas justified?
No, that's nonsense.
Hamas has its own supplies; they organized them months ago.
They have their own energy supply.
Everything is well prepared, only the common people have nothing to do with it.
More than a million internally displaced people are staying in Rafah.
© Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
How present is Hamas?
She doesn't show up.
You don't see Hamas fighters on the streets, ever.
People therefore feel that they are the target of Israeli attacks, not Hamas.
Military victory against Hamas unrealistic: There must be a political solution
Where are the Hamas fighters then?
In the tunnels, since the beginning of the war.
When the Israeli tanks advance, they disappear into it.
The anger among the civilian population must be enormous.
The people of Gaza blame Hamas for this entire disaster.
The Israelis are killing Palestinians, they are the enemy, yet people blame Hamas.
Is a future in the Gaza Strip without Hamas realistic?
Life without Hamas as a power factor, not in the government, is probably realistic.
However, it is totally unrealistic to defeat them militarily.
Hamas is not only a political and military movement, but also a social and religious movement, and it is not just in Gaza.
But also in the West Bank and abroad.
The pro-Hamas people abroad support them much more than at home.
Hamas can therefore be weakened.
But within a few years it can form again.
We must therefore look for a political solution.
Common fate of Israel and Palestine: trust instead of bloodshed
What could that look like?
It is our fate that we live together, Israelis and Palestinians.
Therefore, daily bloodshed should immediately be replaced by confidence-building measures.
Mutual dependencies, economic connections, there are many things you can do to live together.
Do you think such a scenario, possibly a two-state solution, is realistic?
The only alternative to this would be a further continuation of the conflict.
Interview:
Marc Beyer