For lasting peace, Hamas must be destroyed

For lasting peace, Hamas must be destroyed. Diplomatic agreements are a part of the history of war, but lasting diplomacy only exists in the aftermath of a decisive victory.

On Sunday morning, Sept. 1, some of the saddest news out of Israel was reported since the war with Hamas began in October: Six hostages, including Israeli-American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were executed by Hamas shortly before the Israel Defense Forces reached their location in the Gaza Strip. News of their execution sparked outrage in Israel, leading to a massive protest in Tel Aviv against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Protesters accused the prime minister of being unwilling to compromise on negotiations with Hamas that would see the release of hostages. Even U.S. President Joe Biden joined in with calls that Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure the release of hostages. But for there to be peace in Israel and Gaza, the State of Israel must not compromise on negotiations; it must defeat Hamas.

In a recent interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, journalist and political commentator Douglas Murray pointed out that we in the West have become accustomed to the idea that every war must end in negotiation, in some brokered peace. Good diplomacy, the thinking goes, is the only medium through which wars end and transform into peace. But that’s not the reality of war.

Historically, wars end not with diplomacy but through decisive victory. Diplomatic agreements are a part of the history of war, but lasting diplomacy only exists in the aftermath of a decisive victory. One of the reasons that the peace established after World War I didn’t last is because, as U.S. Gen. John Pershing noted then, the Germans were not completely defeated. Israel must remember this fact as it prepares for “the day after” in Gaza.

FOR LASTING PEACE, HAMAS MUST BE DESTROYED | Read on Jewish News Syndicate

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