Israel Will Not Stop Until They Kill Every Member of Hamas
Expectations of a ceasefire are naive and will be ignored
The attack on Oct 7th was more horrific than Israelis’ wildest nightmares, shattering their sense of security and reputation of invincibility.
The magnitude of the attack, coupled with its ISIS-like savagery, have “woken the sleeping Lion,” and focused their energies on revenge.
Rallying around Netanyahu, ostensibly the one most responsible for the country’s defenselessness, the country has stated its goal: destroy Hamas.
Predictably reacting with a relentless aerial bombardment of Gaza, the IDF has paved the way for a ground invasion already cutting the strip in half.
Although the stated casualties are likely inflated, reliable sources confirm thousands of Palestinian civilian deaths so far, at least half children.
Israel could certainly carpet bomb all of Gaza in a day, an irrelevant factoid used to rationalize-away its opposite: better target Hamas leadership.
Most of the world is demanding a ceasefire, which the Israelis won’t acquiesce to until each and every member of Hamas is dead.
From the Prime Minister on down to selfie videos from IDF soldiers, that stated objective has been clear, consistent, and continous.
The implications of all this is a ground invasion that will only get more intensive from here, and won’t stop until the stated goal is achieved.
The encirclement and siege of Gaza City is Phase 1. The IDF will squeeze Hamas, sector-by-sector, building-by-building, tunnel-by-tunnel.
Several hundred thousand civilians remain in the combat zone. Israel will press on. Global rallies expand, antisemitism grows, Israel doesn’t care.
The hostages? A few might be rescued in the chaos. Most cannot and will not, since Israel will not empower Hamas with their negotiation.
And why would Hamas negotiate, either, when Israel has been clear about their express goal of destroying them operationally and personally?
Expect a modern Stalingrad in the streets above, and Viet Nam within the tunnels below. The only hope is a relatively rapid Hamas collapse.
And expect the IDF, haunted by the ISIS-like savagery of Oct 7th, and unwilling to offer future bargaining chips, to take zero Hamas prisoners.
Meanwhile back here in the States, the polarization and pressure will continue to mount on the Biden administration from all sides.
Some Democrats have already broken ranks, threatened to pull the support of their own constituencies in lieu of a ceasefire and change in policy.
Demonstrating unequivocal support for Israel and moving two carrier groups into the region has so far helped keep Iran out of the war.
But that might have more to do with China not wanting their Middle East oil flow interrupted than Tehran/Hezbollah fearing the wrath of Israel/US.
Adding this all up, expect the livestreaming of atrocities to further fan the flames of anti-US, pro-Palestinian, and antisemitism throughout the planet.
In that sense Hamas has already won. They will eventually be physically destroyed like ISIS, but their legacy will radicalize generations to come.
#flawedstrategy #bloodlust #israelactinginitsownworstinterests
