12-20-2023, 07:31 PM
(12-20-2023, 03:51 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: The problem is that this situation is of Israel's choosing. They make the choices to engage in the type of war they are carrying out rather than more surgical, targeted strikes like our government has tried to encourage.
This is not wholly accurate. Israel did not choose the instant conflict, Hamas did. Surgical attacks are rather difficult when your enemy is dispersed within the civilian population and dresses like them. You cannot clear a tunnel complex without surrounding all of its entrances. You cannot surround all its entrances without controlling the area around the entrances. You cannot control the areas around the entrances without advancing troops through enemy territory to get there. You cannot do that without a secure perimeter to enable logistical support. You're grossly oversimplifying what needs to be done accomplish these tasks.
Quote:They have chosen to strike areas they have told refugees to flee to, telling them they would be safe.
Could it be this occurs because Hamas congregates themselves in these areas for reasons we've already discussed?
Quote:And, most importantly, Netanyahu chose to prop up Hamas as the leaders in Gaza to prevent the Palestinian Authority from gaining any ground towards a two-state solution because he and his allies do not want to see an independent Palestinian state.
This is true, but I think you're overstating the impact of his, admittedly underhanded, decision in this regard. Whatever effect this has had is absolutely dwarfed by Qatar for example. Qatar not only provides safe haven for Hamas leadership but effectively launders money for them as well. Yet we hear almost nothing of them in the news and I don't recall a single post in this forum mentioning them as a major contributor to this conflict.
Quote:Now the actions of his government are going to be radicalizing whatever survivors exist, ensuring that even if Hamas is destroyed during this war there is a 100% guarantee that another group will step into the vacuum left behind. Whether is it Hamas or another organization, this will all happen again.
Maybe. Let's say even probably. Does it create more risk of a future conflict over leaving Hamas intact? Unknown, but we can most assuredly say that leaving Hamas intact guarantees future 1/07 attacks, as they've publicly stated so.
Quote:I have no sympathy for Hamas. I have no sympathy for Netanyahu and his government. My sympathies only rest with the innocent Gazans who are struggling right now and with those who are mourning the loss, whether it be through death or kidnapping, of their loved ones from the 10/7 attack.
Here we 100% agree.
