Fighting Flares Anew in Gaza as Hamas Reconstitutes

[Prairie Gates]

Source: The New York Times

As the Israeli military stepped up pressure on what it calls Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza, fighting elsewhere in the Palestinian enclave on Sunday led to warnings that the militants might remain a force for a long time to come.

Close-quarters ground combat between Hamas fighters and Israeli troops raged in parts of northern Gaza over the weekend, both sides said on Sunday, even as the world’s attention was largely focused on the southern city of Rafah, where Israel escalated military operations last week.

It has become a familiar scenario in the Gaza Strip over the course of the seven-month war: After pitched battles, Israel declares an area clear of Hamas, only to return after the militants reconstitute their forces.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said he was concerned that Israel’s failure to lay down a template for the governance of Gaza meant that its victories might not be “sustainable” and would be followed by “chaos, by anarchy and ultimately by Hamas again.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza.html

---

Sweep and clear, search and destroy. "And if in the months following that operation incidences of enemy activity in the larger area of War Zone C had increased 'significantly' and American losses had doubled and then doubled again, none of it was happening in any damn Ho Bo Woods, you'd better believe it..."

(with apologies to Michael Herr).

[Eko]

1. At some point they are going to have to realize this is not working.

The shame will be at how much death and destruction of civilians it will take for them to come to that conclusion.

[AZLD4Candidate]

2. Get rid of Hamas, then one can do that. Any peace settlement must come with the destruction of the Hamas led Gaza

Last edited Mon May 13, 2024, 02:26 AM - Edit history (1)

Government that gives quarter and sanctuary to terrorists.

We didn't negotiate with Al-Qaeda. . .why should Israel be forced to do so with Hamas?

[Prairie Gates]

3. Did you mean to respond to someone else?

What does "that" mean in "do that?"

[AZLD4Candidate]

8. get rid of hamas, then one can start working for peace.

Hamas has no interest in peace. It uses peace to regroup, then breaks peace every time.

Can't have peace with terrorists hell bent on destroying you.

[Prairie Gates]

10. So you DID mean to respond to someone else?

Confusing discussion.

[AZLD4Candidate]

15. No, I was agreeing with you.

[IronLionZion]

4. "Any peace settlement must come with the destruction of Gaza"

What does this mean?

[AZLD4Candidate]

7. Ran out of space. . .wife pulled me away from the computer, then forgot to finish

Must come with the destruction of gaza government. Hamas controls it and it must be destroyed.

[Lonestarblue]

9. To get rid of Hamas means that no Palestinians will be left alive in Gaza.

That seems to be Bibi’s ultimate goal so Gaza can be developed for his right-wing settlers.

[IronLionZion]

11. Syrian refugee style

that's the goal. For Palestinians to leave. Bibi don't care where they go, he just wants them gone. He figures if it gets bad enough, other countries will take them.

[AZLD4Candidate]

14. So, based on your own words, all of Gaza is Hamas?

To get rid of Hamas means that no Palestinians will be left alive in Gaza.

You might want to clarify this comment.

[SoFlaBro]

16. There is a very clear distinction between the Palestinians and the shitty Hamas terrorist fuckbags.

[AZLD4Candidate]

17. Thank you for running interference for the person who said, but I would like them to clarify their comment

themselves.

I don't think they need an unwanted, official PR person on DU doing it for them.

[SoFlaBro]

20. There are PR people on DU?

[LeftInTX]

21. Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians

JERUSALEM — Hamas leader Yehia Sinwar has for years overseen a secret police force in the Gaza Strip that conducted surveillance on everyday Palestinians and built files on young people, journalists and those who questioned the government, according to intelligence officials and a trove of internal documents reviewed by The New York Times.

The unit, known as the General Security Service, relied on a network of Gaza informants, some of whom reported their own neighbors to police. People landed in security files for attending protests or publicly criticizing Hamas. In some cases, the records suggest that authorities followed people to determine if they were carrying on romantic relationships outside marriage
snip
Early in the war, he said he took images of (Hamas) security forces hitting people who fought over spots in line outside a bakery. Authorities confiscated his camera.

Fasfous complained to a government official in Khan Younis, who told him to stop reporting and “destabilizing the internal front,” Fasfous recalled.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/secret-hamas-files-show-spied-115810329.html?guccounter=1

[PSPS]

5. This has been proven to be ineffective, yet "Bibi" keeps doing it. Everyone knows why, too.

Netanyahu is reviled by everyone including a vast majority of Israelis. But, to keep his Frankenstein coalition of lunatics in power (and, thus, his own self out of prison for his corruption,) he'll keep this going until someone puts a stop to it. The US is in the best position to do this, since Israel wouldn't even exist today without US taxpayers' funding. Reagan had to do this twice with Menachem Begin to bring him to heel.

[Mawspam2]

6. Military genius Lindsey Graham sez the only way for Israel...

...to win is to drop nukes on all of Palestine.

Works for me.

[Happy Hoosier]

13. Lindsey needs to be checked for brain worms.

That dude has more than a few screws loose.

[Happy Hoosier]

12. I'd like to see international governance of Gaza

IMO, Israel cannot and should not control Gaza after the fighting. And the international force MUST be empowered to engage Hamas if necessary. Hamas cannot be permitted to develop in the absence of an immediate conflict.

[maxsolomon]

18. Hamas will remain as a guerilla force no matter who's put in charge.

I doubt any Arab nation will participate in an international force, though it is likely the best scenario. It would legitimize Israel's strategy and they can't be associated with that.

[Happy Hoosier]

19. Yes, I agree that Hamas will remain a factor.

Which is why they must be actively suppressed. Ultimately, if there is a strong international presence that allows a Palestinian government to actually economically develop the region, I think the Palestinian people will support stability and economic improvements over a never-ending cycle of desctruction.

[Igel]

22. Let them cluster.

Then destroy them.

Let those who survive group together again. And destroy them.

Let them pull in reserves and fellow travelers. Destroy them.

They set up target enriched areas, grant them their earnest desire to fight.

Those that are suffering must ultimately turn on their defenders and oppressors or volunteer as wannabe genocides and racist oppressors should fight in battle, not against drunk and high partiers or against families at peace on a day like Simchat Torah or Eid al-Adha, for their unjust cause--"From the river to the sea, Palestine! Judenrein! This will surely come to pass, certitude in Judenhass! Of course I know who I am--I'm all in for Al-Qassam!"

Not what they say, but it's what I translate a lot of protestors' cheers and jeers to mean. Authorial intent is soooo overrated, or so I was told in (some of) my literature courses.