Max Abrahms: Historic Escalation in the Israel-Hamas War
Oct 13, 2023
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Exploring the motivations behind the recent Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli civilians and the Israeli government's response. Examining Hamas' true objectives and the impact on negotiations. Discussing the potential increase in Hamas' popularity among the Palestinian population. Exploring the symbiotic relationship between the Israeli right and radical groups in Palestinian political media. Highlighting the issuance of work permits to Gazans by the Israeli state. Analyzing the impact of the Israel-Hamas war and US politics. Discussing Gaza's dependence on Israel and examining strategies for militant groups to achieve success.
Hamas may be aiming to position itself as a leader in the global Sunni terrorist movement by provoking a violent response and galvanizing jihadists from around the world to join their cause.
Israel faces challenges in targeting Hamas militants without harming the civilian population, as Hamas intentionally hides among civilians to use them as cover.
The US's relationship with Israel and its role in the conflict raise concerns about aggressive actions, media reporting, and the radicalization of the youth.
Deep dives
Hamas's Provocation Strategy and Global Jihadist Leadership
Hamas's recent brutal terrorist attack on Israeli civilians was a shocking escalation of violence. While it may seem like a major strategic mistake for the Palestinian cause, there could be larger motivations behind Hamas's actions. One theory suggests that Hamas aims to position itself as a leader in the global Sunni terrorist movement. By provoking a violent response from Israel, they hope to galvanize jihadists from around the world to join their cause. The unprecedented scale of the attack and the high number of perpetrators involved indicate a historical escalation. This strategy of provocation and using violence to gain legitimacy is not new in the study of terrorism. It remains to be seen how successful Hamas's tactics will be in achieving their desired objectives.
Israel's Response and Challenges of Targeting Hamas
Israel has responded to Hamas's attack with a sustained bombing campaign and a blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government faces challenges in targeting Hamas militants without directly harming the civilian population. Hamas intentionally hides among civilians, using schools, mosques, and hospitals as cover. This tactic makes it difficult for Israel to separate combatants from non-combatants. While Israeli actions are focused on disrupting Hamas's infrastructure and military capabilities, unintended civilian casualties and suffering are inevitable given the complexities of the situation. The question of how to minimize civilian suffering and provide humanitarian aid remains a challenge.
US Response and the Proposal to Cut Off Aid
In response to the recent violence, the Biden administration has expressed support for Israel's defensive measures and assistance with replenishing the Iron Dome. The United States has also moved a ship closer to the region to deter further escalations. Some have raised questions about the amount of aid provided by the US to both Israel and Palestine and its effectiveness in advancing US interests in the region. Ron Paul's idea of cutting off aid to both sides is an alternative viewpoint that challenges the conventional approach. However, the ongoing dynamics of US-Israel relations and the complex geopolitical context make it difficult to determine the best course of action.
Israeli Occupation and Apartheid
The speaker highlights the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land since 1967, which has turned into a system of apartheid. The occupation has lasted for 56 years and has resulted in ethnic cleansing, terrorist attacks on Palestinians, and the killing of numerous Palestinians, including children. The speaker asserts that Palestinians are pushed into resistance due to the denial of their rights by the Israeli government.
US Role and Radicalization
The podcast discusses the role of the US and its relationship with Israel in the ongoing conflict. The speaker raises concerns about the rhetoric from certain US politicians, such as Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, and Lindsey Graham, who support aggressive actions against Iran. The podcast also explores the radicalization of the youth, especially at universities, and the danger of aligning with Hamas and ignoring their acts of violence against Israeli civilians. The speaker emphasizes the need for clarity in media reporting and highlights the complexity of the situation on the ground.
This is the audio version of The Reason Livestream, which takes place every Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
Hamas stunned the world last weekend by launching a brutal terrorist attack on Israeli civilians and posting their crimes on social media. Israel's government responded with a sustained bombing campaign and a total blockade of the Gaza Strip. Why would Hamas provoke what was certain to be a devastating response from the powerful Israeli military? What is likely to happen next in an Israel-Hamas war that threatens to spill far beyond the region? And what, if anything, should be America's involvement?
"The first thing smart militants do is recognize that civilian attacks are a recipe for political failure," writes Abrahms. "You might say that the first rule for rebels is to not use terrorism at all."
While he's called Hamas's attack a "major strategic mistake" for the Palestinian cause, he told Reason that their objective might not be to secure autonomy for Palestine at all in the near term but rather an attempt to position "itself as a leader in the larger global Sunni terrorist movement" by provoking a violent response that will galvanize jihadists from around the world to join them.
We analyzed the likely outcomes of Israel's response to the terrorist attack, reacted to statements from GOP politicians like Lindsey Graham who has called for America to bomb Iran if U.S. hostages are killed in Gaza, discussed the principle of US military noninterventionism as articulated by Ron Paul in clips that have circulated social media in the wake of the attack, and the, frankly, insane reactions from American leftists who celebrated Hamas' violent attack as an act of "decolonization."
