Gaza – The Sad Reality Versus the Possibility

In the early 2000s, before Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, over 100,000 Palestinians crossed the border daily to work in Israel. However, following Hamas’ takeover, this number significantly decreased. Just prior to October 7, 2023, it had increased to over 20,000 per day.

In 2005, Israel withdrew from every square inch of Gaza, uprooting and displacing 9,000 Israelis who lived there. At that time, greenhouses worth slightly more than $14 million, built by Israeli settlers, were handed over to the Palestinian Authority. These greenhouses provided winter fruits and vegetables to Europe, generating annual sales of over $100 million. Within three days of Israel’s disengagement, Palestinians destroyed these greenhouses, proverbially “biting off their nose to spite their face.”

The claim that Gaza was an “open-air prison” prior to October 7 is not entirely accurate. Over 17 years, billions of dollars flowed into Gaza from donor nations worldwide. Unfortunately, this money was misused and misappropriated by Hamas and UNRWA. Hamas diverted these funds to construct an intricate network of over 500 miles of underground tunnels, rather than investing in infrastructure and education. Much of the money also ended up in the bank accounts of Hamas leaders living in Qatar. For instance, Deputy Chair of the Hamas Political Bureau, Abu Marzuk, is worth $3 billion, while Khaled Mashal and Ismail Haniyeh are each worth about $4 billion.

With different leadership and thoughtful investments, Gaza could have become a coveted Mediterranean vacation spot, especially for European tourists. There could have been numerous five-star hotels and great restaurants.

Sadly, that was not to be. Killing Israelis became more attractive. It is crucial to stress that Israel withdrew from every single square inch of Gaza in 2005.

In December 2023, I visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which is on the border with Gaza and was brutally attacked on October 7. While there, I asked one of the Kibbutzniks how the attack transpired. I was told that the terrorists first took control of a nondescript building in the center of the Kibbutz. That building was, in fact, the kibbutz armory. When I asked how they knew which building was the armory, the answer was that many workers from Gaza had been working in the Kibbutz for years.

As many scholars have pointed out, the conflict between Palestinians and Israel has been one of Palestinian rejectionism versus Israeli conciliation. The main element of Palestinian rejectionism has been the negation of Jews, Judaism, Israel, and Zionism. The enduring goal of the Palestinians has been to destroy Israel. This is why they prefer to waste money that could improve their living standards to demonize Israel and refuse to make peace.

The West often assumes that economic prosperity and development are the keys to peace. However, Palestinian rejectionism shows that for many, deferring these goals and even enduring mass suffering is an acceptable price for a longer-term goal, whether that be an independent state or the dream of establishing an Islamic caliphate. This is a zero-sum game.

Gaza, unfortunately, has borne the brunt of Hamas terror. Gaza is the ultimate victim of Palestinian intransigence and its desire to destroy Israel. Westerners tend to think in short terms and lack memory, but this region has a deep memory. The key will not simply be changing the economic situation but also the hearts and minds of the people. Clearly, there is a strong rejectionist thread, but empowering elements of Palestinian society that are not rejectionists should be a goal.

With all my heart and soul, I pray for peace. I have supported peace-making organizations and politicians in Israel. Unfortunately, the horrific murders and rapes of Jewish women on October 7 have made the dream of a two-state solution—two countries whose children will compete on the soccer field and not the battlefield—seem farther away than ever.

Let us not despair. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NY) often reminds us of “the active conviction that despair will never have the last word.” May hope replace despair and may Senator Booker’s challenge motivate us all!