Jerusalem’s Long War
17th October 2024
Over the last year, Israel has decimated Hamas’s regime in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist organisation showed no remorse after its invasion of Israel last October. Of course, the victorious proclamations that followed the massacres in Israeli settlements soon turned to pathetic protestations of victimhood when Benjamin Netanyahu’s government struck back. Over the last year, the IDF has systematically dismantled and routed Hamas’s military capabilities, yet the concern now is what comes next, as Egypt has deployed its military along the Gaza border to prevent any refugees from leaving. This could have left the Israelis in a familiar situation, able to defeat the enemy, yet having to wait for the problem to reemerge once again. The idea of Palestinians being moved to other Islamic countries is considered a faux pas in polite company, so this has never been discussed seriously as an option. Thankfully, Netanyahu’s government—unlike previous conflicts against Hamas—have finally implemented lasting change. They have split the Gaza strip into several zones, which will prevent Islamists from re-arming, whilst allowing food and other commodities through checkpoints.
This policy is shaped by the realisation that Israel’s calculations have now changed. The delusion that they could live next to territory controlled by Hamas has been shattered, and no prime minister who presides over a similar invasion will be forgiven. With this in mind, Netanyahu’s government voted in late August to keep troops in the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land 100 yards wide and nine miles long, which runs parallel to the Egyptian border. This will allow a robust control of the border areas and make tunnelling very difficult for any remaining militants.