Hamas aims to secure a ceasefire to maintain control in Gaza, potentially emulating Hezbollah’s governance in Lebanon. Proposals for Palestinian Authority-led governance might result in a similar terror-state scenario. Israel must fully dismantle Hamas militarily and ensure a robust security presence to prevent a resurgence, with any governance model considered only afterwards.
The current objective of Hamas during the ongoing conflict is to secure a ceasefire, enabling it to rebuild its military capabilities and reinforce its political dominance in the Gaza Strip. In doing so, Hamas appears to be modeling its governance structure after Hezbollah’s previous control in Lebanon, presenting a facade of a legitimate government while maintaining strict military and political authority.
Furthermore, various proposals from regional players, including Egypt and Israel, that intend to replace Hamas with a Palestinian Authority-led government, could inadvertently lead to a scenario similar to Lebanon. Without a decisive conclusion to the military campaign against Hamas, the risk of Gaza evolving into a terror-state remains heightened.
Egyptian President Fateh El-Sisi has voiced opposition to forcing Palestinians out of their land, advocating for an independent Palestinian state and a temporary governance by a committee of technocrats. Meanwhile, reports suggest Hamas may be amenable to transferring control to the Palestinian Authority under certain conditions. However, skepticism persists regarding Hamas’ genuine willingness to relinquish its power over Gaza.
Hamas appears to be drawing inspiration from Hezbollah’s earlier position in Lebanon, where although a government existed, it wielded limited authority and the terrorist group maintained military dominance. If Hamas replicates this model in Gaza, it could rebuild its arsenal and conduct operations against Israel while claiming legitimacy under an internationally recognized governance structure.
Israel faces the possibility of international backlash should it attempt to neutralize Hamas if such a structure were in place. This complicates military actions against Hamas, which might take advantage of international support to strengthen its military capabilities while evading accountability.
Consequently, the only viable solution for Israel is to re-engage militarily in Gaza to dismantle Hamas entirely. This entails both the destruction of its military apparatus and the establishment of a long-term security presence to ensure that no rearmament occurs. Full operational freedom for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is essential for maintaining security and preventing Hamas from rebuilding its threat to Israel.
Moderate autonomy for Gaza, supported by international partners, could only be contemplated once these requirements are met. Ultimately, until Hamas is fully neutralized, any semblance of governance in Gaza remains precarious and ineffective.
In summary, the article emphasizes the urgency of fully dismantling Hamas in Gaza to prevent it from transitioning into a terror-state akin to Hezbollah’s Lebanon. It argues that without total military and political control over Gaza, any potential governance arrangement would be ineffective. Given the strategic threats posed by Hamas, a decisive military response, paired with comprehensive security oversight, is essential for long-term stability in the region.
Original Source: www.algemeiner.com
