Palestinians evacuate after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for several schools and a hospital in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) APAP
To the Editor:
Tom Moran (“It’s not just self-defense. In Gaza, it’s ethnic cleansing,” May 7, 2025)) correctly comprehends Hamas’ monstrous malevolence, but fails to appreciate the extraordinary complexities of Israel’s necessary response to it. It is not committing “genocide,” “war crimes” nor “acts of infamy.” It is facing a ruthless enemy, above and below ground, in densely populated areas, hiding in every conceivable internationally protected space, schools, hospitals, mosques, even private homes. Those are largely booby-trapped. There is no way in such circumstances that massive destruction could be avoided. Much of the Gaza Strip is now unlivable, but not by design, and many former residents will want to leave. When voluntary, it’s not “ethnic cleansing.” By contrast, Hamas forces Gazan “steadfastness” in staying. Cited ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir are speaking for themselves, not the government.
There doubtless is much suffering in Gaza. Previous reports of “famine” and “starvation,” though, have repeatedly proven false. Consistent with its ongoing propaganda strategies, it is entirely in Hamas’ interest to paint the direst possible picture. During the recent ceasefire, there was a surge of about three months supply of civilian goods. After 10 weeks of cutoff, intended to pressure Hamas into another ceasefire exchange of hostages for hundreds of prisoners, there is an estimated one month supply left. That Israel doesn’t “care whether [Gazans] live or die” couldn’t be further from the truth. It has been working on a plan to resume distribution of limited amounts of humanitarian assistance under conditions that would prevent its theft by Hamas. It would depend on the U.N. World Food Program, and humanitarian NGOs already working in Gaza, to distribute food packets at four secure sites, each of which would serve 300,000 people, and reach 1.2 million Gazans in the first phase, with capacity to expand beyond 2 million. The U.S. has been pressing the U.N., aid agencies and its allies to participate in this plan, but they have so far refused. Egypt continues to keep closed its Rafah crossing, that would both allow aid to enter Gaza, and Gazans to leave to available shelter in Sinai.
Israel has not forgotten the remaining living hostages, who were cruelly kidnapped and been kept in inhumane conditions since. Bringing them, and the dead, back is essential Israeli ethos. Only days ago, the IDF, under fire, retrieved the body of Zvi Feldman from a shallow Syrian grave, 43 years after he went missing in the First Lebanon War. Hamas could long ago have ended this war by returning them, admitting defeat, and have its remaining leaders allowed to go into exile. They have chosen not to do so, expecting that supportive media coverage and growing humanitarian concerns would allow them to survive to regroup and rearm, eventually to be able to repeat 10/07/23, “over and over again”.
Israel is not about to let that happen. As even regional moderate Arab regimes concur, Hamas military and despotic political control of Gaza must end. The Strip must be demilitarized and deradicalized. New local clan leadership must evolve, with adequate security protection against Hamas death threats. Israel can no longer abide an ongoing existential threat to remain on its southern border. It did not choose this war but had it thrust upon it. After such great national trauma, and the loss of so many lives, it must persevere to the total destruction of this mortal enemy.
Moran’s former strong support for Israel was not misplaced. Israel is among America’s best friends and strongest allies. Its enemies are America’s enemies. In battling an inhumane foe, it has fought back as humanely as possible. That may not be so seen now, but that truth will surely emerge from the war’s inevitable post mortem analyses.
Richard D. Wilkins
Syracuse
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