https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ6S0-o3uFI
The ship is sinking for Hamas, and it is apparent that they have decided to take all of Gaza down with them. What many Gazans hoped would be a spiritual Ramadan filled with devout prayer by day and large family meals by night, has instead turned into a horrendous nightmare. Hamas combatants burst spontaneously into homes to use them as launchpads for firing rockets at Israel. Children walking on the street are encouraged to climb to the roofs of building targeted by the Israeli Air Force to be used as human shields. Under any civilian’s home, nearby hospital or school, there could a stash of rockets that Hamas has hidden there.

Gazans must feel compelled to ask the question, “how is Hamas’ firing of rockets at Israel helping my situation?” For an Israeli, while they may not feel comfortable with the I.A.F.’s numerous operations in the Gaza Strip, they experience the direct benefit of these missions. The I.A.F. destroying launching pads and the headquarters of Hamas’ terrorist operations, less rockets are then deployed towards Israel. Less people are put in harm’s way. Hamas’ infrastructure is further damaged and they will face greater difficulty the next time they plan a kidnapping or any sort of attack against Israel. But for a Gazan, how does the injury of an 80 year old Israeli woman in Beer Sheva help their cause?

Hamas will not bring Gazans economic growth. They will not bring them security. Nor will they create a free and open society for Gazans to live in. Over the past nine years, the only thing they have brought Gaza is war and destruction. Meanwhile, Israel has had to become accustomed to “mowing the lawn”. Every few years, Israeli mothers and fathers must routinely send their children away to fight a war instigated by a barrage of rocket attacks from Hamas and other Jihad terrorist organizations. It is now clear that Hamas’ armament has led to them procuring missiles far more reaching and with greater capabilities.

With Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa now in danger, Israel will no longer withstand Hamas’ frequent rocket attacks. Hamas knows that, too. Tragically, they will make every effort to make Israel appear as the belligerent. This means more children used as child shields. More jihadists inspired to commit future acts of terror using radicalized interpretations of Islam. More homes, schools, and mosques destroyed that are used as launching pads rather than their intended purpose.

We must hope that in their downfall, Hamas brings down as few innocent civilians with them as possible. As humans, we must plea for a speedy resolution to this current conflict that leads to a long-lasting peace.