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Six months ago, Israel suffered the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, killing more than 1,100 people and taking 134 hostages, including Americans. are languishing and being tortured in the terrifying tunnels of Gaza.
Days after a brutal and coordinated attack by Hamas, former President George W. Bush spoke some rather prescient words: [to say]: “It’s been too long. There is certainly a way to resolve it through negotiation. Both parties are guilty.” My view is that “one of us is guilty.” And it’s not Israel. ”
Bush was right. It didn’t take that long, six months. And now the clock is clearly ticking on Israel’s military efforts. The key question is whether the clock is also moving forward for Hamas.
IDF suspension raises tensions between Israel and Iran; withdrawal of all combat forces: ‘More alert, more prepared’
In Jerusalem, military cabinet member Benny Gantz has called for elections in September, partly in an effort to quell a domestic political dispute over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the hostages, but likely not before the large-scale military operation is over. It may also be a signal that you have to do it.
This image, made from undated body camera video footage taken by a downed Hamas terrorist and released by the Israel Defense Forces, depicts an undisclosed location in southern Israel during an Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Hamas terrorists are shown roaming through a residential area in the city. (Israel Defense Forces, via AP)
Across the ocean in Washington, both President Joe Biden and his rival, former President Donald Trump, are urging Israel to take swift action, but in very different and persuasive ways. .
A reckless Biden, bowing to the far left of his party, is pressuring Prime Minister Netanyahu to end the conflict, whether it means the release of all the hostages or the complete defeat of Hamas. Thankfully, some Democrats, such as New York Rep. Richie Torres and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, are resisting these despicable calls.
Meanwhile, President Trump had a different message for Israel, telling radio host Hugh Hewitt this week, “They’re losing the PR war. They’re losing by a lot. But they started it. has to be finished, and they have to finish it quickly. ”
In this case, finishing what they started means only one thing: ending Hamas.
The wars of the 21st century, from Iraq to Afghanistan, Ukraine to Gaza, are plagued by one elusive question: What does it mean to win?
Our wars rarely end with a caption parading a canyon of heroes. Instead, they degenerate into a dangerous détente and unstable status quo, secure enough to survive.
But the October 7th attack is not something Israel can just endure. The threat that Hamas will once again push across the border, burning children alive and occasionally raping women, is not an acceptable price for temporary peace.
Whether they are members of the war cabinet or taxi drivers, Israelis understand one thing: No matter how this fighting ends, Hamas and its supporter Iran will destroy Israel. We must not end up believing that we have promoted a cause.
Families of Israeli hostages march to Jerusalem carrying photos of their loved ones taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza on March 2, 2024. (Photo credit: Matan Golan/SOPA Images/LightRocket, Getty Images)
Because if that happens, if Hamas survives its atrocities and is allowed to live and fight another day, they will do it again and again. Indeed, after what the world witnessed on October 7, Hamas may be emboldened to do even worse.
Does anyone doubt that next time they will poison Israel’s water supply or attack a chemical factory and kill tens of thousands of people? Who will stop them? Iran?
Given its continued support of Hamas after its atrocities, there is no reason to believe that Iran will do anything but smile at the deaths of more innocent Jews.
And what is the horror and suffering in Gaza that the left demands? The heartbreaking death of an aid worker? It’s tragic and terrible, and it’s also entirely the fault of Hamas and his supporters.
Israel left Gaza about 20 years ago. The Palestinian government, its people, and those who support the region could have used the nearly unlimited foreign aid pouring in to make it a new, shiny Dubai or the United Arab Emirates.
Instead, they chose to spend that money on plans to build endless miles of tunnels, buy rockets, and murder Jews.
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No one forced that choice on them.
After October 7, it became crystal clear what it meant to win the war against Hamas. It can only be summed up in his two words, etched like a tattoo on the Jewish imagination: “Never again.”
Whether they are members of the war cabinet or taxi drivers, Israelis understand one thing: No matter how this fighting ends, Hamas and its supporter Iran will destroy Israel. We must not end up believing that we have promoted a cause.
The horrific conflict in Gaza is reaching its climax. The clock is ticking for Israel to act, which means its actions must be even more decisive.
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The only way to truly end this conflict is to ensure that terrorists are severely punished so that they never commit the inhumane acts of October 7th again.
The only way to accomplish this mission is to end Hamas. Six months later, the time has come.
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