The problem is that the Israeli political echelon does not take this into consideration when it makes its decisions. Israeli politicians are more afraid of losing elections and their social standing than they are concerned with the chaos that leads to conflict in Gaza every two or three years. This is exactly the difference between leaders who try to guess the will of the people and those who manage to lead by example.
Despite IDF's clear victory in recent days and Hamas movement's hopelessness, and despite the clear balance of power, the Gazans are not going anywhere. The more they sink into distress and despair, the less they will have to lose.
After Plan A and B failed, does Hamas have a plan C?
According to the IDF, Hamas faced a crisis in failed attempts at reconciliation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. After what Hamas saw as the PA's betrayal, the terror group turned to its "plan B": the March of Return protests with the ultimate goal of penetrating the fence by any means necessary through the blood, fire and smoke.
Apparently, though, there is no plan C. Hamas will move in all different directions trying to find it's way. Several proposals for a long-term "cease-fire" with Israel have been made and Israel has continued to ignore these proposals. The other possibility is to continue to launch rockets and try to carry out a serious attack through a tunnel, assuming that usable tunnels remain. It seems Hamas is not relying on this option. Rather, it is waiting for the next climactic boom, worse than the previous ones.
ISRAEL WON AGAINST HAMAS IN GAZA BUT ACHIEVED NOTHING
ISRAEL WON AGAINST HAMAS IN GAZA BUT ACHIEVED NOTHING
Hamas is at an all-time low and has run out of options; its achievements are few and far between with little hope on the horizon.
BY BEN CASPIT/MAARIV
MAY 17, 2018
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-won-against-Hamas-in-Gaza-but-achieved-nothing-556698
When the clouds of tear gas and burning-tire smoke dispersed, the results of the IDF's victory over Hamas turned out to be 60 dead, zero achievement and very little international attention. The Qataris mumbled something, Turkish President Reccep Tayip Erdogan gave his two cents and in between it all were the voices of concerned Europeans. This is what Yehia Sanwar and Ismail Haniyeh managed to gain from their exhausted and damaged people
Hamas's other objectives failed: There was no infiltration into Israel, the Palestinian protesters failed to reach Israeli towns or military positions, not a single Israel soldier was even scratched, Palestinians in the West Bank did not rally to their brothers' aid, and the Arab world shrugged its shoulders, managing only to send a feeble condemnation.According to Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh's plans to breach the border fence, Hamas was supposed to infiltrate Nahal Oz today and, much to the State of Israel's relief, his plans have failed.
The time has come for Israel's political sphere to move forward and decide — but do not hold your breath.
In Israel, the political echelon is generally complacent at such moments. So what is the rush? We do not have a true victory that we can accept. We lack the ability to foresee a solution and use the momentary leverage in our current comparative advantage to improve the future.
It is no secret that there is no difference of opinion between the Israeli defense community and the IDF regarding tactical issues, but there is an abyss in the strategic realm — and the army's course of action is supported by a wall-to-wall consensus.
On the other hand, the political stagnation is perceived by many of our security professionals as a disaster. No, there is no explicit criticism of the political echelon, there is a universal recognition that the politicians are free to navigate their path.
Even if this is the case, there must be behind closed doors quite a bit of frustration regarding the current situation.
On Tuesday 60 Palestinians from Gaza lost their lives, and next time there will be 600.
The cautious assessment of intelligence officials today speak to the reality that in view of unprecedented distress and the unprecedented lack of movement, it will be possible to bring Hamas to places in which it has never agreed to be. For example, it would be possible to renew Palestinian reconciliation efforts, to bring the Palestinian Authority to Gaza and to resolve the division of military power.
Hamas will not disarm of its own volition, but can it certainly can agree to share it power and not hold its militaristic government in Gaza exclusively. This could be a historic development and an initial step to ending terrorism in the Gaza Strip.
Translated by Jonathan Rosen.
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In the aftermath of the killing of 60 Palestinian protesters in Gaza all parties are introspective regarding events...
The title of the article is misleading...Hamas is the party to this premeditated violence that achieved nothing. It never has and never will....as many of us continue to point out.
The world community feels otherwise, for the most part, regarding recent events in Gaza...
What do you think Hamas gained? What did the Gazan people gain? If Hamas' intention was for Israel to be demonized, it didn't need all that rioting for that to be accomplished. Any reason to demonize Israel is acceptable, especially by the media, and then secondarily, by the rest of the world.
Who is the world community?
The Middle Eastern Nations and their leaders? The United States / European countries, (pretty much) all of whom are having their own protests and unrest, even violence in the streets?
I get confused on just who it is that can cast the first stone in condemning Israel for achieving nothing .. the Israeli military once again protected their sovereignty - protected the Israeli people ... How much clearer does Israel have to make things, before Hamas understands that Israel will protect her borders at all cost?
With Hamas's influence waning perhaps a more common sense ruling body will be put in place in Gaza (?)
What did participants - all of them - expect?
Why did they all, as if by a sort of dreadful accord, dance this fore-ordained dance of death?
A dead child is the symbol: why in God's name was a child in a free-fire zone? Madness!
I cannot imagine. If there is any up side it is that Hamas seems to be losing influence and support among Palestinians in Gaza and that Egypt was able to intervene with them. We hear a lot of hyperbole from both sides denying any possiblity of peace but people are also sick and tired of the status quo. The rest of the world seems to be mostly advancing towards multi-cultural peace and tolerance. So, why can't Israel? Why can't Egypt? Why can't Iran? If the Islamic world ever hopes to join the modern community of mankind culturally and economically on an equal basis the Muslim nations must be a lot more magnanimous towards everybody else within the parts of the world they control. If Egypt wants tourists to ever come back they need to not merely participate in but lead the peace process. The same goes for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq an Turkey. Just think of Beirut Lebanon which used to be the "Paris of the Middle East" butt which is now a pile of rubble nobody would ever want to visit much less live in although it sits right in the middle on some really desirable real estate in the world. Hasn't everyone in the damn world just about had enough to this stupid futile no good nonsense? Are we evolved modern men and women or are we still half monkey tribes of bloodthirsty irredeemable killers?
It's a long time tactic, to make the children into mini-martyrs, in order to provoke worldwide outrage
Of course... But by now, the tactic is so obvious that it is the parents who are perceived as having murdered their own child, at the behest of Hamas. Downright ghoulish...
I do not think the world community is willing to see that which is obviously right in front of them, as it does not fit the anti-Israel narrative / agenda!
Perhaps... But it seems to me that Hamas overplayed, badly. Observers are fatigued...
No amount of proof or logic will sway the anti-Semitic anti-Israel bent of the media or its readers, and sadly they are even among us.
Yep, it's just another form of suicide bomber, just without the bomb.
And like usual, the evil cowards who encouraged and/or sent them there are no where near the action ……
IMNAAHO, the whole operation has been a demonstration of Hamas's impotence... desperation... and indifference to its people.
Get rid of Hamas and peace has a chance there. Zero chance with them involved.
Trying to make good with anyone who wants to kill you all is a fools errand and Israel can't afford to be foolish.
Given the same circumstances ….. who could?
Agreed.
Hamas should go back hat in hand to Abbas and comply with the requirements set forth for reconciliation and joint leadership of the Gazan people. One of those requirements is for Hamas (and any other splinter terror organization such as Islamic Jihad) to give up its weapons. They won't. The ridiculous thing is that if they would give up their weapons and delete from their written declaration the obliteration of Israel and annihilation of the Jews, the blockade would be removed, and life for the Gazans would return to their having good jobs in Israel, easy passage through the border crossings, ability to sell their produce internationally, International help to rebuild the infrastructure, development of their coast to be a world-class tourist destination, etc etc etc.
But that's just a dream, because they won't give up their weapons and they will stagnate until the last man living. It is not within their culture to give up.
Are you happy with this comment JBB? Does it meet your standard of being "On Topic"?
Yes, and I would appreciate it if everyone keeps comments on topic on serious news articles...
Israel achieved nothing save that no Israelis were harmed, and considering the unending desire of Hamas otherwise, that in itself was an accomplishment.
Unless they stop pussy-footing around and break out the big guns they are just asking for more of the same.
Are you suggesting an all-out invasion of Gaza? Knowing that the rest of the world hates Israel now, that would be the way to seal its fate forevermore.