Anyone with a sense of decency and a real heart must condemn the mass brutal terrorism manifested by Hamas against innocent Israelis. But how really to undermine, if not extinguish Hamas or any wannabe copycats or possible replacements of it. How to bring about peace before the whole region blows up and even curtails India’s peaceful economic “miracle”?
But first to the idea of all these efforts being put into trying to rid Hamas and followers by bombing the Gaza to “smithereens or, possibly by commando or other raid raids. According to one 2022 report by Asharq Al-Aswat, already, “Senior leaders of Palestinian factions have left their homes in Gaza Strip and are currently living in luxury hotels in rich countries, together with their families, said intelligence sources in Israel.” So, what is the heavy bombardment and even possibly to be followed by a land invasion (as of this date of writing, Oct 17) by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) going to accomplish fully? Is it Israeli-Palestinian peace in our time?
I am afraid not, but the result of such intensified attacks in Gaza by the IDF could lead to more dreadful polarization and misery among the general population. That is if Israel’s military causes more havoc on innocent Palestinians, by blowing up huge residential blocks and generating much further terrible damage on and in the lives of innocent Gaza residents – including refusal to provide, even basic humanitarian assistance. Then at some point without a proper settlement between Israelis Palestinians, the exiled Hamas leadership living the high life, or not, might return and join up with a new generation of hateful leaders. Ones that graduate from training camps abroad – or in underground tunnels extending to say into Egypt, or reconstructed or existing ones not found. Is pacifying Gaza, for lack of a better term an impossibility for Israel even if it were to commit (more) serious war crimes and re-annexation? Is there a better way ahead and from the head?
No doubt some seething with anger over the mass unconscionable attacks on innocent Israelis may think what should happen to the Palestinian people is like a justifiable part of a biblical idea of a plague on all houses, a collective revenge of sorts, an “eye for an eye”. This should be far from acceptable thinking and is no long-term solution for peace, clearly. Yet, what is worrisome is according to an October 10, 2023, Washington Institute article, “Overall, 57% of Gazans express at least a somewhat positive opinion of Hamas—along with similar percentages of Palestinians in the West Bank (52%) and East Jerusalem (64%).” So Israel is rightfully worried about the possibility of a full sovereign Palestinian state next door that would have Hamas (or sympathetic) elements or other extremist and terrorist elements in a government represented at the UN and further empowered by its full sovereignty. And besides Hamas, like supposed main backer of Iran is calling for the destruction of Israel. This is no matter how much more moderate the Fatah group of Palestinians is which is governing the West Bank that has renounced Israel’s extinguishment and terrorism, as well as having banned Hamas essentially, there. To make an analogy that might help to bring home to readers a better understanding, think about this. What if Pakistan, bad enough with its current harbored terrorists declared officially that it actively supported the fragmentation of India into Muslim and Khalistan separate nations? Be it Israel or India or America, and well beyond, nations do have the right to legitimately defend themselves, especially from major existential threats.
It is reasonable, on the other hand, to argue that a two-state solution implementation, providing Palestinians a full sovereign state would make most Palestinians, including millions of refugees to become less supportive of Hamas. (Two State Solution, Wikipedia). According to the Washington Institute there is hopeful data. “Moreover, half (50%) of Gazans agreed with the following proposal: ‘Hamas should stop calling for Israel’s destruction, and instead accept a permanent two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.’”
In fashioning a sovereign Palestinian state beyond the current Palestinian Authority, there could be some major tuning, indeed, considering that Israeli settlements on the West Bank is one of the most contentious issues blocking a two-state reality. The state’s establishment and negotiations to this end would take place after the “dust” had settled over the war in Gaza and recent terrorism events in Israel, however.
How might the UN solution work but strengthened, in getting into the more specific mechanics, especially regarding Israeli settlements on the West Bank.? For example, a UN peacekeeping force, including of Indians would be deployed on the border between the two states to prevent incursions. There are already barriers in place, though. No political party that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist or promotes hatred and racism to Jews would be allowed to exist. Israel would fully recognize the new West Bank centered Palestinian based state. No further Jewish settlers would be allowed to establish residence in the West Bank, unless the new Palestine government permitted it. Jews from the settlements would be given free daily passage to Israel and if necessary, UN peacekeepers would assist this. Since Jewish settlers would retain their Israeli citizenship, a council between the new Palestine state, Israel and the UN would deal with evolving major issues regarding the settlements when one side brought them up. A rotating chair would be shared and only vote on ties. The council would oversee not only the settlements’ security but as well as existing corridors for safe passage.
As far as the right of return of expelled Palestinians and descendants to Israel goes, that would be largely extinguished though Israel on a selective basis in a limited annual quota basis would allow it partially. However, largely such a right to return based on Palestinian lands taken away in 1948 would be extinguished. A lump sum fund mostly from the West, Europe in particular, would provide compensation based on a UN reparations agency set up to deal with this question. Gaza would also be incorporated in the new state after some degree of reconstruction and order.
With India and many others including India pushing ideas of inclusion and mutual respect, a more permanent peace can happen between these two great peoples. Both of whom including their diasporas that represent some of the most educated people in or connected to the Middle East. After all, the Egypt-Israeli peace accord along with the Abraham ones shows the possibility of the “impossible peace” happening. Then why not a peace accord to end the Israeli-Palestine conflict and turn the region into one of prosperity for the many than one with so many festering pools of hatred. A two state solution could be like killing two birds with one stone, a resurrection of Hamas or like groups and return to horrible conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
Peter Dash writes extensively on geopolitics.