Should Israel Seize All Of Gaza?

From a strategic perspective, seizing the Gaza Strip offers Israel immediate and long-term gains in security, leverage in negotiations, and control over a territory that has been a persistent source of military threats.

Oh, so Israel shouldn't seize Gaza because it's all about “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing,” and apparently the IDF is the real terrorist group, while Hamas is just a bunch of underdogs with slingshots? Let's unpack this with a little humor and a lot of facts.

First, if Israel were actually trying to commit “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing,” someone should tell them they're doing a terrible job—the Arab population in Israel has grown by over 1,200% since 1948 and now makes up more than 2 million citizens, about 21% of the country 7 12 14 . That's the worst “ethnic cleansing” campaign in history. Maybe Israel should stick to high-tech startups instead.

Second, about the “power imbalance”: Yes, the IDF has tanks, jets, and Iron Dome, while Hamas has rockets, tunnels, and a tunnel network that would make a mole jealous 8 9 . But let's not pretend Hamas is just a neighborhood watch with fireworks-they've got thousands of fighters, Iranian-made missiles, and, as we saw on October 7, a willingness to launch surprise attacks on civilians 6 8 9 . If you think Israel's military strength makes defending itself a crime, maybe you'd prefer them fight with one hand tied behind their back? Spoiler: they tried that, and it didn't end well.And as for “what's next?”-well, after dealing with a group whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, maybe Israel's plan is to finally get some peace and quiet. Or at least a few days without rockets raining down.

So, do we know what we're talking about? Absolutely. And if you want to compare “terrorists,” just remember: one side builds bomb shelters for its civilians, the other builds tunnels to hide its rockets. That's not just a difference in power-it's a difference in priorities.