Gaza, Where Are We Now?

                    Where Are We Going?

More than sixty days into the War, we are now getting some of the facts about what had been happening to the hostages held and still being held by Hamas. We had evidence on October 7^th as to the depths of human degradation the followers of Hamas were capable of. Reports from the individual hostages are hard to come by because Hamas has been careful to retain family members of those freed to militate against them telling the world about what they have experienced. They have been informed of the threat to the lives of their loved ones if they should disclose publicly the truth of what they have been through.

We are also informed by U.S. sources that the war was resumed because Hamas would not release the remaining 23 female hostages. Those remaining could tell the world about the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of their captors. One can harbor the fear as to whether we will ever see them alive again.

We can wonder about U.S. family of four that were supposed to have been released that then Hamas reported were now dead. Could it be that the babies refused to be quieted and were killed, so the parents were killed as well so they would not bear witness to the murders?

We have now been told that the  captives were drugged before release so they would follow directions and appear happy and friendly to their captors when freed.

So we get an idea, if we needed it, of what and who we are dealing with. These fanatical terrorists do not have the moral framework for human behavior that most of us take for granted.

Israel has conducted this war as if its most important purpose was to free its hostages. But it is also conducting this war as if its most important purpose was to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza strip. To an extent these goals for Israel were complimentary as military pressure favored hostage release for a military pause which Hamas was desperate to have. The war would end the day that Hamas would surrender which is not likely in the near term.

For Hamas, its goal is to survive and this goal is in diametric conflict with Israel’s goals. Hamas is counting on its willing allies around the world to force Israel into an armistice that will leave them remaining in a position of authority in Gaza. We have these forces at work around the world and even in the U.S. Congress.

Israel needs U.S. support, but faces conflict with some elements in the U.S. administration. Up to now it has been able to proceed with the conduct of the war.  Throughout, it has engaged in a communication program with Palestinian civilians to steer their presence away from areas of military action to those areas which are relatively safe. Israel succeeded in moving most of the population to the south, away from the continuing intense struggle in the north.

Hamas obviously had the opposite objective, seeking more civilian casualties to encourage support for its proponents around the world who are massing in the streets. From the beginning Hamas has been counting on these efforts to avert its destruction. It appears it has allies in the U.S. congress.

Now, Israel is adding military initiatives in the south to complete its mission. It has shifted to more activity on the ground, rather than the focus on an air assault as carried out during the campaign in the north.  With the population density now in the south, it has resorted to military action with more precision. Israel continues to direct information to civilians, indicating the safest areas for them to avoid the greatest danger. Israel has consistently gone to great lengths to minimize the dangers being faced by civilians even at the cost of informing their enemy of their plans. None of this is of interest to those whose goal is the ultimate elimination of the Jewish state.

Many concerns are being raised as to the ultimate end point of Israel’s struggle. Israel’s primary goal is the safety and security of its population. Surely, the war has not widened because the forces arrayed against us have not been prepared to face a fully engaged Israel and U.S. military in the Middle East.

Gaza will have to face an extended occupation by the forces of Israel because there are no parties willing to take it on that would be acceptable to Israel. It remains to be seen whether the international community will be willing to accept the cost of reconstruction. Is the world already tiring of support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression? Will there be a “Marshal Plan” for Gaza?

This war, initiated by the horrific attack initiated by Hamas on Israel in October 7^th, is simply the latest chapter in the assault by those forces being advanced by Iran and other anti-democratic forces, against the hegemony of western civilization. We must all be increasingly aware that these forces are at play in the wider world. The U.S. and all of its allies are the ultimate enemies in the view of these forces.