# Discussion for the Israel-Hamas War: A thread in the Pit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** israel-hamas-war\ **Created:** [November 5, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653 "2023-11-05T21:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 120
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2381 "2025-01-17T07:42:31Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > No, you just said “Which your ilk won’t even acknowledge” in response. Because there are people who want to deny that babies were killed at all. > [@MrDibble](#): > > You think “crazy fascist bootlicker” is very adult of me, do you? I think you’re wrong to call me that, but it’s light years more mature than making fun of my name. > [@MrDibble](#): > > So - settler colonialism is the right term for it, then? “Nationalist dumbfuckery” would probably be more apt. > [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s certainly right in line with how they split WB from Gaza. Two different places with two vastly different governments. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Neither is bombing babies Israel has not gone to war with Gaza for the purpose of “bombing babies”. They have gone to war with Gaza in self-defense. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2382 "2025-01-17T07:53:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Because there are people who want to deny that babies were killed at all. None of them are in any threads here, that I see. How does vigorously defending an easily-disproven lie about them, to people who don’t deny some babies were killed then, actually help that effort? > [@Smapti](#): > > it’s light years more mature than making fun of my name. Damn, I wasn’t going for mature, but I’ll take it. > [@Smapti](#): > > “Nationalist dumbfuckery” would probably be more apt. It’s only nationalist dumbfuckery when you do it in your own country. Or else the Sudetenland was also just nationalist bumbfuckery. Outside your own country, it’s sparkling colonialism. > [@Smapti](#): > > Two different places with two vastly different governments. One people, one Palestine. > [@Smapti](#): > > Israel has not gone to war with Gaza for the purpose of “bombing babies”. No. They’ve bombed babies anyway. > [@Smapti](#): > > They have gone to war with Gaza in self-defense. They’ve killed babies while doing so. Babies they didn’t _have_ to kill for self defense. Arguing that the baby-killing is part of the self-defense is what makes you crazy, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2383 "2025-01-17T08:07:31Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Arguing that the baby-killing is part of the self-defense It’s not “part of the self-defense”. It’s collateral damage and it’s unfortunate and tragic. Israel isn’t bombing babies on purpose, which sets them apart from Hamas. > [@MrDibble](#): > > One people, one Palestine. Yes, that’d be nice. It’s not going to happen unless Hamas has a change of heart after the ceasefire kicks in. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2384 "2025-01-17T08:11:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s not “part of the self-defense”. It’s collateral damage ‘Collateral damage’ (talk about you made-up bullshit) is part of whatever action it’s collateral to. It is inseparable from it. > [@Smapti](#): > > Israel isn’t bombing babies on purpose Yes, it very much is. > [@Smapti](#): > > Yes, that’d be nice. It’s not going to happen unless Hamas has a change of heart after the ceasefire kicks in. “But, Hamas!” again. It’s not Hamas that separates the two parts of Palestine and the two groups of Palestinians. That’s _all_ on Israel. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2385 "2025-01-17T14:49:58Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > Yes, that’d be nice. It’s not going to happen unless Hamas has a change of heart after the ceasefire kicks in. > > “But, Hamas!” again. > > It’s not Hamas that separates the two parts of Palestine and the two groups of Palestinians. That’s _all_ on Israel. Yeah, it’s not fair to blame this one on Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is equally responsible for rejecting every possible two state deal. One day, the Palestinians will accept the existence of Israel, and agree to a two state solution. When that happens, there will be a Palestine, and Palestine and Israel will be at peace. Until that happens, we’ll continue to see groups within Gaza and the West Bank launching attacks and getting defeated. And MrDibble will continue to insist that this is entirely Israel’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2386 "2025-01-17T14:57:13Z")
Honest question for MrDibble… If tomorrow Israel declared “OK Palestinians, January 31st is Palestinian Independence Day. All the settlers will be evicted, the PA is in charge until you can have elections. Bye!” What do you think would happen next? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2387 "2025-01-17T14:57:49Z")
It’s not the PA or Hamas that allows and even encourages thugs to assault and steal from Palestinian civilians in the WB, but Hamas certainly thanks the Israeli government for doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2388 "2025-01-17T15:02:31Z")
“But, the settlers!” again? Yawn. I genuinely don’t understand the thought process that would lead you to dismiss Israel’s very legitimate security concerns as “but Hamas” yet lead you to continue making _exactly the same argument_ about the settlers. You want the settlers gone? Me too. Take a two state deal and you can do whatever you want to any settlers in the borders you negotiate. Or refuse to do that, and negotiate from a weaker and weaker position at some point In the future. Generally, the way negotiations work means you get less that way. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2389 "2025-01-17T15:10:27Z")
The actions of the Israeli government with regards to the settlers and the WB put the lie to any claim that this government has a real desire (much less a plan) for long term peace and security. And without that, it doesn’t matter, in the long term, what they accomplish in Gaza (which, so far, seems to me to be little more than death and destruction, and likely creating more terrorists than they’ve killed or captured). That (among many other things) is why this government has been and continues to be, functionally speaking, allies of Hamas. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2390 "2025-01-17T15:26:59Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > What do you think would happen next? Well, everyone sits down for a picnic and lives happily ever after, of course. I mean, since it’s complete fantasyland you’re talking about, why not? “Honest question”, my arse. > [@Babale](#): > > dismiss Israel’s very legitimate security concerns as “but Hamas” Israel’s legit security concerns aren’t what we dismiss with “But Hamas!”. Israel has very legitimate security concerns (which it could much better address by leaving Palestine alone, a hard border and not doing all the shit it does to non-Hamas Palestians - like the murder, theft, torture, rape) It’s when you use that cry to excuse their baby-murdering that it gets mocked. > [@Babale](#): > > Take a two state deal and you can do whatever you want to any settlers in the borders you negotiate. Israel is never going to hand over a single settlement that has live Jews in it. Never going to happen. So _Israel_ is the one that’s going to have to clear the settlements (as opposed to paying financial incentives to settle there) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2391 "2025-01-17T15:51:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > What do you think would happen next? > > Well, everyone sits down for a picnic and lives happily ever after, of course. I mean, since it’s complete fantasyland you’re talking about, why not? > > “Honest question”, my arse. Well, it’s what you seem to think should happen next, yet you ignore the very real reasons why Israel doesn’t want to do that, and instead substitute in gEnOcIdE and cOlOnIzAtIoN. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Israel is never going to hand over a single settlement that has live Jews in it. I wonder why… > [@](#): > > Never going to happen. So Israel is the one that’s going to have to clear the settlements (as opposed to paying financial incentives to settle there) That’s precisely what Israel did in Gaza. Under Sharon, a very right wing prime minister. The IDF you despise so much bulldozed homes that belonged to Jews, while those Jews protested and screamed about how unfair it was. If you want that to happen in the West Bank, then the Palestinians need to agree to a two state solution first. Hamas demonstrated exactly what happens when Israel unilaterally disengages. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2392 "2025-01-17T15:53:12Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > which it could much better address by leaving Palestine alone, a hard border and not doing all the shit it does to non-Hamas Palestians - like the murder, theft, torture, rape I’m not sure if you’re delusional, or dishonest. We both know exactly what would happen if Israel “left Palestine alone” to freely import whatever arms they’d like from Iran. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2393 "2025-01-17T16:06:59Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > it’s what you seem to think should happen next I think a lot _more_ has to happen than just Israel wiping its hands of the mess its made. > [@Babale](#): > > you ignore the very real reasons why Israel doesn’t want to do that What, reap what it’s sown? No, pretty well aware of that - I mean, Hamas, amirite? > [@Babale](#): > > I wonder why… What, did you think _anyone_ here thinks Palestinians are above revenge? > [@Babale](#): > > That’s precisely what Israel did in Gaza. The Gaza settlements were tiny - 8000 people. The West Bank (including Arab Jerusalem) has more than half a million. Not remotely comparable. > [@Babale](#): > > If you want that to happen in the West Bank, I don’t, actually. I want the Israelis to just leave, none of this scorched earth bullshit like was done in Gaza withdrawal. Consider those nice condos the first down payment of restitution. > [@Babale](#): > > Hamas demonstrated exactly what happens when Israel unilaterally disengages. “Disengages” but maintains the blockade, airstrikes and Egyptian border corridor. Yeah, real “disengagement” there. > [@Babale](#): > > We both know exactly what would happen if Israel “left Palestine alone” to freely import whatever arms they’d like from Iran. Then attack Iran for it. That’s much more legit than killing the 2 y-o neighbour of some Hamas flunky. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2394 "2025-01-17T16:12:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > What, reap what it’s sown? No, pretty well aware of that - I mean, Hamas, amirite? Yeah, only Israel has any agency. The Palestinians aren’t “sowing” anything by attacking Israel and trying to destroy it once a decade. > [@MrDibble](#): > > What, did you think _anyone_ here thinks Palestinians are above revenge? What were the Moroccans “avenging” when they burned down my grandpa’s business? > [@MrDibble](#): > > Consider those nice condos the first down payment of restitution. _Restitution_? Go fuck yourself. You don’t declare wars of annihilation, lose, then get the same offer you rejected before you started the war _and_ restitutions. Are you fucking _joking_? If Israel wants to send aid of one kind or another because making Palestinians’ standard of living higher has security benefits to Israel, great, I agree with doing that. But _restitutions_? Fuck right off. > [@MrDibble](#): > > “Disengages” but maintains the blockade, airstrikes and Egyptian border corridor. Yeah, real “disengagement” there. Israel withdrew in 2005 and the blockade didn’t start until years later. It started _in response to_ Gaza’s actions following withdrawal. But you’ve made it clear that you don’t believe Palestinians have any agency of their own. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Then attack Iran for it. That’s much more legit than killing the 2 y-o neighbour of some Hamas flunky. If you think that no civilians will die in a war with Iran, maybe you really _are_ delusional. But, you are right - it probably does need to happen - Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and many other groups will not stop unless the puppet master is stopped. It would be much better if it came about as a result of internal revolution rather than war, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2395 "2025-01-17T16:27:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > At the time it appeared to be a legitimate example of Israeli forces deliberately attacking aid workers. If that is what it was, then it was unacceptable. The response I got for my attempt to find common ground was to be told that I was being racist for “only being mad when white people get hurt”, which is preposterous no matter how much trying to label me a racist lets y’all give yourselves a pass on your antisemitism which you’ve decided is OK because Jews now count as “white” to you (which would come as some surprise to every single Holocaust survivor). There were plenty before, and all you responded with was “Israel’s cause is just”. And if you’re just going to keep going with the anti-semitism horseshit for calling out the moral failings of you and Israel’s leadership, you really have lost the entire fucking plot. There’s someone else who keeps doing that (Netanyahu), but you definitely claim you don’t support him. Just like Babale hates Ben Gvir and Smotrich, yet parrots their cries about the ceasefire. > [@Smapti](#): > > Which your ilk won’t even acknowledge, because admitting that Hamas are murderous terrorists detracts from the narrative of them being brave freedom fighters striking a blow against “colonialism”. Because it didn’t fucking happen. But please, continue to wave the false bloody flag. > [@Smapti](#): > > And once it has been, what will you say? Literally nothing. I’m just pointing out how ridiculous YOU are with your claims. > [@Smapti](#): > > Israel expects Hamas to break the ceasefire eventually. That’s not what was said. Israel has stated this ceasefire is temporary to exchange hostages and prisoners. They fully intend to go back into Gaza eventually to finish off Hamas. > [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not the one who brought it back up. If, in fact, the children were murdered in some other way, it doesn’t mitigate the enormity of the crime. Does it mitigate the enormity of the crime? No. Does it point out how you religiously cling to blatantly false narratives for your dehumanization of Palestinians? Yerp. > [@Smapti](#): > > Because there are people who want to deny that babies were killed at all. Name and shame. > [@Babale](#): > > Yeah, only Israel has any agency. Funny from the poster that’s claimed for a year that Israel has had no choice but to accidentally kill all those kids. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2396 "2025-01-17T16:34:24Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > Yeah, only Israel has any agency. > > Funny from the poster that’s claimed for a year that Israel has had no choice but to accidentally kill all those kids. Of course I never claimed that, but I’m not surprised that someone as stupid as you got confused by something so clear. Israel always has a choice: to let Hamas strike into Israel unopposed because they’re willing to do it from behind civilians. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2397 "2025-01-17T16:37:49Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > The Palestinians aren’t “sowing” anything by attacking Israel and trying to destroy it once a decade. Oh, they certainly are. Once again, happy to condemn Hamas militants and any other _actual_ Palestinian murderers all the live-long day. > [@Babale](#): > > What were the Moroccans “avenging” when they burned down my grandpa’s business? Probably nothing, it was probably an antisemitic attack. What does that have to do with Palestine? > [@Babale](#): > > Restitution Yes. That’s what you do after you’re caught stealing. > [@Babale](#): > > Go fuck yourself. You first, buddy, you first. > [@Babale](#): > > the blockade didn’t start until years later What self-serving bullshit. Israel has restricted access to Gaza since the 90s. Sure, it got _worse_ from 2007, but it was a _de facto_ blockade long before that. > [@Babale](#): > > If you think that no civilians will die in a war with Iran, maybe you really _are_ delusional. Iran has many, many legitimate military targets, in a way Gaza does not. I’m not suggesting Israel retaliate by bombing Tehran willy-nilly. I mean, I get the IOF are generally cowards who’d much rather snipe babies and safely bomb tent cities, and Iranians just might put up more of a fight, but the cause is just, right? That’s what your buddy Smapti says, anyway. I believe there’s even a pithy German phrase for it - something about Guts and Mitts? No, that’s not it… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2398 "2025-01-17T16:39:04Z")
It’s Netanyahu and his allies who insist there are only two choices. But there have always been many, many more than those two. Things are not nearly that simple, and never have been. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2399 "2025-01-17T18:15:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s Netanyahu and his allies who insist there are only two choices. But there have always been many, many more than those two. Sure thing bud. We’ve been round this carousel before, it goes like this: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) OK, so when Hamas attacks Israeli from a civilian area, if Israel should _not_ warn the civilians to evacuate and them bomb the building, what _should_ they do? [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Be8G_tbgTzP9GJ-4mncwuQsxWMtFYcqyBYXVV1_2_w&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Be8G_tbgTzP9GJ-4mncwuQsxWMtFYcqyBYXVV1_2_w&s) Not this! This is wrong! [![](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) “Not this” is not a specific course of action. What should they do specifically? [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Be8G_tbgTzP9GJ-4mncwuQsxWMtFYcqyBYXVV1_2_w&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Be8G_tbgTzP9GJ-4mncwuQsxWMtFYcqyBYXVV1_2_w&s) They could send in special forces. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) They _did that_, and a bunch of civilians got killed in the crossfire, and everyone blamed Israel anyways. Ground forces cause just as many or sometimes more casualties than airstrikes. [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Be8G_tbgTzP9GJ-4mncwuQsxWMtFYcqyBYXVV1_2_w&s) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9Be8G_tbgTzP9GJ-4mncwuQsxWMtFYcqyBYXVV1_2_w&s) Well they should just have done it differently and not killed civilians. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/49/32/cf/4932cf23b65d17df8477f3d70a7728e5.jpg) How? And so it continues, ad nauseum. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2400 "2025-01-17T18:22:24Z")
That’s tactics, not strategy. Israel doesn’t appear to have any strategy beyond the immediate term – destroy Hamas (and, crucially at least until the recent election, _keep the fighting going_ in order to help Trump and hurt Biden). No long term strategy for Gaza; no comprehensive strategy for the whole region; nothing beyond Netanyahu’s short term political goals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653.md?page=119) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653.md?page=121)