Actually, I categorically do not support Hamas. I just don't have the somewhat stereotypical view that is handed out by the mass media (and I'm not inferring you do). I understand why Hamas is popular, and it distresses me that the side with the most to gain; Israel, creates (don't forget Hamas was originally funded by Israel to undermine Fatah) and then bolsters through their actions groups like this. Israel is capable of being proactive, the Palestinians as a people are not. Because of the conditions imposed on them they are almost entirely reactive.As I said, Hamas is a symptom, not an illness.
Like Hezbollah, Hamas is a group that is not just a resistance organisation. It is also a social groupment, a charity, a service and utility provider and a religious group. To state, as is often said in the commercial media, 'Hamas hides behind civilians' is purposefully wrong and purposefully misleading. Hamas is civilian, the majority of its fighters are ex-PA security forces, but also have a primarily civilian function. They don't sit around all day polishing their AKs. This intertwining of the military, paramilitary and non-military is well understood as a side-effect of the collapsed condition of society on the West Bank and Gaza, but a simplistic view is expounded to make them easy black-and-white foes.
A group such as Hamas is best destroyed by removing its reason for being. I endorse any method of undermining Hamas by bettering the lives of Palestinians, and I suggest that this would automatically better the lives of their Israeli neighbours as more working men would be supporting families and not throwing their lives away against the IDF or the civilians they shield.
Realistically, it was Israel just as much or arguably more who acted in bad faith. Hamas could not renew the cease-fire with the blockade killing the people by degrees, it was against their reason for being. If Israel had relaxed the blockade and allowed humanitarian aid back into Gaza, allowed food, allowed power and allowed drinking water, only then could Hamas feel that both sides were dealing in good faith. Hamas is a very reactive organisation, it responds strongly, simply and predictably. I don't for a second believe that no one in Israel's ruling elite didn't think the rockets would start up again if they kept up the horrible blockade.
This is where I put the blame. The 'tough on Hamas' crowd are being macho for the upcoming election, and they know that if they keep throttling Gaza they can count on Hamas to start shooting off their stupid Quassams in a show of defiance, and have a cassus belli to be hardcore.
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