Israel has had every right to respond to the massive pogrom on October 7, 2023. Hamas is a ruthless terror organization, and its mission is clearly genocidal – it wants to destroy Israel and eradicate Jewish people in their homeland – and even beyond. It is in their charter.
Hamas still has not handed over all hostages, and it still has capacity for striking Israel, apparently. But it certainly has been weakened significantly by now. Similarly, Hezbollah has been weakened, and Iran, the supporter of both, seems to be held in check, for now.
Now is the time to end this campaign. There has been enough suffering, enough pain, enough death and removal that some are now accusing Israel of genocide. I find the term problematic in this context, given that Israel is itself the victim of a genocidal actor.
Yet no matter how you label what is happening, it is not helpful in creating the conditions for a lasting peace. Israel needs to give Gaza and Gazans a chance to rebuild, to live, to thrive. This is the only path forward. Anything else will cloud whatever future both Israel and Palestine will have in the region. Hamas is an organization, but it is also an idea. Right now, the organization may be defeated, but the idea is not.
Hamas started this war. Israel has a right to defend itself. But every war must end, and the logic of war must be stopped. War and violence are poisons that seep into society, darken it, threaten its very soul, threaten the souls of everyone. This cannot continue. Even World War II had to end without every Nazi captured or eliminated. Now is the time to build peace and seek justice through peaceful means, rather than allow justice itself to be weakened as well.
Enough Already. For the sake of both Israel and Palestine. We need peace, and we need to build a better future together.
Erratic Attempts 