The Conflict in Gaza and the Horror of the Future

            Sometimes, there seems to be no solution or way to obtain a better future. For the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the situation appears dismal at best. After the revelation that three missing Israeli teens had been killed, the Israeli military (and many rogue civilians) took matters into their own hands. A series of revenge killings led to Hamas’s decision to launch multiple rockets into Israel in retaliation for the persecution of Palestinians.

            The Israeli governments finds itself between two ferocious waves. On the one hand, many in Israel are calling for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in order to remove the threat of Hamas and strengthen Fatah (who they see as more secular and less radical). The other wave is what I call the Horror of the Future which is what “really” will happen if they go through with the invasion.

            A ground invasion of the Gaza Strip will do anything but weaken Hamas. Hamas will most likely be emboldened and be seen as the defender of the Palestinian people. It will gain political strength and military recruits even as Israeli forces destroy their rocket sites. World condemnation, as always, will follow and will restrict Israel’s diplomatic options and will further strain its relationships with the new governments of the Middle East.

            The reality is hard to face. While it may be just to invade the Gaza Strip in order to defend Israeli civilians, it will not result in a better situation once the invasion is over. The Palestinian people will be angered. The Muslim nations of the Middle East will decry the invasion as persecution and will gain money and followers against Israel. As hard as it is to face, for Israel to assert its national interests will actually go against its national interests.