We Can Handle Hezbollah and Iran, We Can Handle Hamas

Remember when we destroyed Nasrallah and Hezbollah? The beepers, the assassinations, the destruction of their missiles? That was the result of years of planning and intelligence. All of that took place because Israel understood perfectly well that Hezbollah was/is an enemy. We never stopped studying them, planning for the next war, examining all possibilities about how to destroy them.

Same thing today. Everyone can read the reports in English and Hebrew about what went on. We actually had troops on the ground in Iran and attacked their facilities from a base that we had in Iran. We tracked their leaders and generals and scientists. The end result: the IDF destroyed their defense systems, the IDF is destroying their ability to shoot missiles at us, and many of their top people are gone. In addition, Israel is pulverizing their nuclear facilities. The huge kicker in this story: Iran is some 2000 kilometers away from Israel. The distance isn’t saving Iran.

Now look at Gaza, which has literally been turned into pile of stones. Hamas’ leadership has been wiped out comprehensively, their organization and troops decimated.

Three times in Israel’s history, the IDF and other security agencies basically went to sleep: in 1973 against Egypt and Syria, in 2006 regarding Lebanon, and 2023 in Gaza. Everyone knows the end result of those mistakes.

We have shown that when we actually keep our eyes open, plan for the worst, think of every possibility, we handle our enemies in a way that no other nation has done.

Yet when it comes to Hamas, many people are absolutely convinced that if any of that organization remains intact, there will be another October 7th. It is taken as a matter of fact that can’t be debated.

A massive attack like October 7^th requires three basic factors: Motivation, ability, and opportunity. Are the Gazans motivated to try again? Could be. I am by no means an expert on what is going on in Gaza (I actually know nothing about them) but for the sake of argument, let’s assume that even after this war, Gazans want to commit another October 7th. Will they have the ability? That is more difficult. If Egypt and Israel cooperate on keeping the borders secure, smuggling can be minimized. Of course Hamas will be able to smuggle some weapons and materials but without the cooperation of the Egypt and Israel (or turning a blind eye), the quantities will be limited.

That leaves opportunity. Will Israel again be fooled by Hamas, will we ignore any evidence that they are planning an armed conflict, will we assume that we have deterred them? That is strictly on us. We provide them with the opportunity, no one else.

In the best case scenario, Gaza is going to be a pile of rubble for years. If Hamas does stay in power, it might remain a pile of rubble for decades. Next to nothing will be allowed into Gaza. The people won’t be allowed to starve but nothing more than that. Worst, worst, worst case scenario – we have an enemy on our border. A poor, starved enemy. But we handle our enemies when we chose to do so. Hamas is not the lethal threat that so many people make it out to be – if we keep our eyes on the ball.

Bottom line: If there is a way to actually get every hostage out (I don’t know if that is possible) in a way that means Hamas stays in power – then do it. We’ll handle the danger. If we can handle a country that is a regional superpower located some 2000 kilometers away, we can handle a poor ruin sitting right next to us.