Hamas' brutality is unpardonable

[Bucky]

205. There's ways to fight Hamas that don't involve leveling apartment buildings and killing thousands of innocent people

Last edited Sun Jan 7, 2024, 04:28 PM - Edit history (2)

One would be not letting their guard down, as the Netanyahu government did, against a dangerous nihilistic terror organization or not ignoring the warnings that came from Egypt's intelligence service that the attack was being planned

Another would be following the Biden administration's advice and go directly at Hamas leaders and financers (which after 2 months of slaughter in Gaza, Israel finally did in killing Yaniya Sinwar* in Lebanon this week -- see correction below--). There's also the actual leader of Hamas in Qatar, Ismail Haniyeh, but you'll note Israel hasn't gone after him. For Lord knows what reason, Israel won't risk hurting Qatari collaterals but Gazans remain anybody's punching bag.

The US would support any other pathway toward punishing Hamas: isolating Hamas, sanctioning individuals like we have with pro-invasion Russian oligarchs, disrupting their resources and communications. We've already put Haniyeh on a list of terrorists and would gladly support pulling him out of the equation. Israel should try to cut a deal with his rival, Marwan Barghouti, and deprive him of his protected status. Biden's own campaign staff have stood up and said we have to have a different approach in Gaza -- that the killing has gone on too long. It's destroying Israel's position in the world with a clear generational divide that bodes poorly for Israel's support in the future.

Saying it's a matter of "Increased diplomatic isolation or impunity for Hamas" is a bullshit dichotomy. There's ways to fight terrorism that don't involve becoming barely indistinguishable from terrorists. Did we learn nothing from Abu Ghraib?

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*Correction: You last week Israeli drones targeted and killed Hamas's deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri, not current Hamas leader in Gaza Yaniya Sinwar.