This is possibly a stupid question, but why not move or offer to help people move from Gaza to the West Bank? AIUI the latter has more space and more of an actual economy, so they’d be better off there, and have more of a chance to build a life rather than plot attacks on Israel.
Israel specifically prohibits it except in a few specialized cases.
Why? Are they afraid it would lead to more attacks from the West Bank?
This Wiki article covers the very complicated history of Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian movement.
Mostly because that’s not something the people of Gaza want. Theoretically territorial exchanges are on the table for the peace process (for example, part of the deal where Israel withdrew from Gaza involved clearing out towns of Israeli settlers who had holed up there and bulldozing whatever they built).
The people of Gaza were originally part of Egypt (while the people of the West Bank were part of Jordan). They haven’t been part of one polity since the British Mandate. They’re different culturally and politically. The Gazans don’t want to leave everything they’ve ever known and move to the West Bank and I doubt they’d get a very warm welcome if they did.
Eta: I interpreted you as asking about moving all the Gazans to the West Bank. Did you mean moving smaller groups/individuals, or everyone?
Space isn’t really the issue (Gaza city is super crowded but there’s more to the Gaza strip than Gaza city). The issue is economic opportunities, and those would come if there was peace. Opportunity to work in Israel, opportunity for Gazans to build businesses in Gaza.
I was thinking enough to reduce overcrowding in Gaza, but on second thoughts that doesn’t make sense; cities generally have more economic opportunities than small town/rural areas. Presumably it’s the blockade that prevents Gaza developing, which is a self-perpetuating problem. Hamas has no incentive to support economic development, since that would cut into their recruiting.
Absolutely. Palestinian suffering directly benefits Hamas so long as they can keep anger directed at Israel rather than themselves. It helps that their leader is bravely leading from the front - err, did I say front? I meant Qatar. So it’s not like he has personal stakes in the matter.
At least until he drops dead of a “heart attack” because his heart medication was replaced with poison, or he suffers a tragic fall out a window, or he is hit by a “stray bullet” fired from a yacht a mile out to sea.
Still, many individual Gazans presumably want to leave, and would move to the West Bank if they could, but according to the Wikipedia article @Elmer_J.Fudd linked, Israel does not allow it. It doesn’t really explain why.
Re Hamas’s leader, they are apparently trained and funded by Iran, and have just acted in Iran’s interests, so why would he be in danger?
Security concerns. You’ll note that movement opens up when things are calm and shuts down when they heat up.
Being in Qatar will not shield this guy from Israel.
I won’t diminish Israel’s security concerns, especially in light of what happened this weekend. But movement from Gaza to the West Bank has been prohibited since 2007! The people of Gaza are oppressed by circumstances created by multiple nation states in the region including Israel. These circumstances have created a breeding ground for hate-filled militants. Things like travel restrictions only make those circumstances worse.
Could be they are afraid of Hamas taking over the West Bank too. And/or maybe they want to keep the option of annexing it, which an increased Palestinian population would make more difficult.
A congent point. And which makes me wonder if the Palestinian Authority (which is in “control” of the West Bank quietly supports Israel in keeping Gazans (and Hamas) out.
Press on.
They’d be wise to, considering the fate of their Fatah comrades in Gaza when Hamas took over.
@Elmer_J.Fudd - moving here to avoid further hijack of the breaking news thread.
I agree. Hamas knows this and intentionally behaves in such a way that these sorts of measures are seen as necessary. Even this attack is calculated specifically to be as heinous as possible and ensure that Israel responds.
That’s been Hamas’ SOP since 2007 when they took power. Unlike Fatah who are in power in the West Bank, they have absolutely no interest in negotiating a way forward.
Israel has had a policy of containment, hoping Hamas will burn out or mellow or time. Clearly that hasn’t happened, and Hamas has proven they cannot be contained. And as you point out, containment imposes its own cost, embittering the lives of Palestinians and ensuring they stick with Hamas.
At this point deescalation with Hamas is impossible. They must be destroyed. But once that’s done, and Fatah or someone else is put in charge, we have to A, protect them from a resurgent Hamas with military force if necessary, and B, ensure they’re actually able to improve the lived of Gazans so they have something to lose by going back to Hamas.
I suppose Israel will occupy the Gaza strip, and likely not leave again. A lot more people are going to die because of this. Who knows if they will try to rebuild anything afterwards - Israel’s actions have been pretty inconsistent, I suppose due to internal disagreements.
This incident has also been revealing in who continues to support Hamas after Isis-tier terrorism. Green parties looking especially bad in the UK, I won’t be voting for them again.
AIUI, one MP said it was the result of “illegal occupation & of imperial aggression by the Israel state”.
That’s a really stupid comment at this time, but it’s not the same thing as the party supporting Hamas.
She was quote tweeting someone saying “Don’t let the western media fool you into thinking it’s terrorism, this is decolonization…” with no disagreement.
Something Israel could do right now is build a refugee camp next to Gaza and let civilians shelter there during the campaign against Hamas. At least women and children, if it’s too difficult to vet young men. Give those who want to avoid the bombing somewhere to go.
Nice idea but I’m not convinced it would work. This is from the Jabaila refugee camp two days ago:
I don’t think the Israelis in charge of this mess view refugee camps as off limits for bombs. Source: Al Jazeera