Reports suggest that Hamas want a full release of thousands of Hamas terrorist prisoners in Israel in return for full release of around 240 Israeli hostages – children, elderly, other ordinary people.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu supported by Benny Gantz, recall what Winston Churchill told the British Parliament on June 4, 1940:
“We are assured that novel methods will be adopted, and when we see the originality, malice and ingenuity of aggression which our enemy displays we may certainly prepare ourselves for every kind of novel stratagem and every kind of brutal and treacherous manoeuvre.…We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender“
Unfortunately, little has changed. World War II ended in unconditional surrender by Germany and Japan which may be the end-game now.
As for proportionality, necessity must be added to the equation. Because Hamas apply “originality, malice and ingenuity” to quote Churchill, everything necessary must be done to address it, as in 1940 and after September 11, 2001. The issue is NECESSITY, not just proportionality.
In the 1990s, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and US President Bill Clinton tried to bring peace to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank through the Olso peace agreement. Unfortunately, continued terror incidents dampened that agreement – parts are still applied.
In the interests of proportionality and peace, Hamas should resign from all positions of power and force. After that a new provisional government, elections and reconstruction in Gaza.
