Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Israel has not violated any agreement with Hamas, as many commentators have claimed repeatedly. This is because, at most, there is a temporary, tactical understanding with Hamas to achieve a specific goal. When a robber breaks into a house, kills family members and holds others hostage, it is permissible to reach an "agreement" with him to allow for the partial or full release of the hostages. But there is no obligation to honor an agreement with a murderer who openly declares that he intends to return to the crime scene and continue killing and kidnapping.
In our case, the murderer still holds hostages. These are his strongest cards. He also oversees nearly two million people who are both hostages of the terror cult ruling the Gaza Strip and, in many cases, supporters of that same murderous cult. Israel must deal with this complex situation with a dual objective: to defeat the murderous cult as much as possible, to free the hostages, and to minimize harm to those who are not assisting the group of murderers.
Given these parameters, one must ask whether the steps decided upon by the war cabinet, led by the blockade, are worth the paper they’re written on. The answer is no, a resounding no. Despite the concept that led us to the October 7 disaster, and despite the 515 days that have passed since, we are still trapped in an equally flawed concept, in which Israel has exclusive responsibility for the Gaza Strip — not Hamas, not Egypt, not the Arab world, and not the international community — only Israel. For years, they have fired rockets and, according to this concept, Israel is obligated to provide electricity to the rocket manufacturers.
Under this formulation, Israel bears responsibility. And indeed, Israel allows unlimited humanitarian aid. Therefore, contrary to myths and accusations, there has been no hunger, no starvation and certainly no genocide. However, there have been countless reports claiming that this is exactly what Israel is doing. According to this concept, Israel bears responsibility. One result is that the rulers of Gaza, even after their murderous attack, have received massive supplies of fuel and food. They have enough for the entire population for the months ahead and, for themselves, supplies for years.
live
Palestinians swarm humanitarian aid trucks in northern Gaza, triggering a deadly stampede that resulted in dozens of fatalities
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
What will the blockade do? Exactly what Hamas wants. Because Hamas thinks strategically. It wanted to make sure Israelis and Jews are worldwide pariahs. "We are at an unprecedented peak of antisemitism," said Jonathan Greenblatt, president of the Anti-Defamation League, this week. Certainly. On campuses, hatred of Jews is repeatedly expressed by lecturers and students, and the covert and overt boycott of Israel is expanding, despite Trump's executive orders against antisemitism. The blockade declaration gives Hamas exactly what it wants.
We are living in absurdity. In the history of conflicts, and in international law, there is no obligation for an attacked state to supply food, electricity and reconstruction means to an attacking entity—unless the attacked state becomes an occupying force. But Israel, even without occupation, has maneuvered itself into a position where it bears responsibility. This is a failure both before and after October 7. So there is no hunger in the Strip, but you better believe famine-related propaganda is quite ubiquitous.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
And now there will be more. Because the blockade is fuel for the fire of hatred. Hamas will stage starving children. BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera and The New York Times will pounce on them from every direction to spread the falsehood about "genocide" and "starvation." In simple and clear words: the blockade declared by Israel does not harm Hamas. It serves Hamas. And if in the coming weeks the bombing resumes, and we once again witness spectacular images of collapsing buildings and innocent people killed, Hamas will send flowers.
True, there is change. There is a new supportive administration in the U.S. But there is no change among the majority of political, academic, media and cultural elites in most of the world's power centers. Hamas operates with a long-term view. Contrary to commentators, even in Israel, I dare to argue that Hamas is not only pleased with Israel's actions, which in the long run will only harm Israel, but also that the renewal of fighting does not trouble it. What exactly will Israel do that it hasn't already done? What trick does Netanyahu have up his sleeve?
After all, on February 7 last year, "the supreme leader," as Nir Barkat referred to Netanyahu, told us that "total victory is within reach." Two months later, he said: "We are a mere step from victory." So what now? Another blockade? More bombings? This is the Israeli foolishness that insists on ignoring what Albert Einstein allegedly once said: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Hamas must be destroyed. No ifs and buts about it. And if there is something frustrating about the current government, it is that it takes every possible step to prevent or delay the destruction of Hamas. The fact that some of the hostages are still in the tunnels, languishing but alive, hinders Israel's ability to act. So release them. Yes, even at a high price. Not to reward Hamas — on the contrary. To finally remove the obstacle that prevents a more serious blow to Hamas.