The greatest, and no doubt most thankless, service the Israelis could provide for humanity in responding to the Hamas massacres would be to set a precedent for abolishing the politics of hostage taking. This would mean refusing both to be morally blackmailed by harm its policies do to Gazan civilians and to waver in their refusal to cease operations so as to negotiate for their own hostages. As I write this it is the second day since the Israeli government has shut of all amenities to Gaza. The predictable cries of “genocide” were issued immediately. No—it’s a siege, an ancient military practice. You end it by surrendering, which Hamas is free to do at any time. Those attacking Israel for starving, etc., Gazans don’t mention that. I wonder, perhaps naively, why, if Gaza can be kept under such a tight quarantine, the IDF even needs to enter Gaza—don’t the Gazans need to come out, with their hands up, unarmed? Why not conquer enough of the strip to set up a refugee camp welcoming those Gazans who wish to repudiate and leave Hamas-ruled Gaza—the Israelis need only ensure that no known or likely Hamas members be leaving and, of course, that everyone enter the protected space unarmed. If Hamas refuses to let them leave will that also be an Israeli war crime? Again, perhaps naïve—there may be reasons against doing this I haven’t considered. (Maybe the logistics are just too daunting.)
I cannot imagine a heavier weight to carry than the cross of dominion.