The limits of military power

Dear Editor,

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, referring to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, stated: "It became clear that that's the worst failure of our intelligence and operational forces since the establishment of the state of Israel."

Moreover, after internal reviews, Shin Bet security chief Ronen Bar concluded that, had the agency acted differently, "the massacre would have been avoided."

Given these admissions, was it necessary to reduce Gaza to rubble, kill over 55,000 Palestinians, displace more than 90% of the population, and cause widespread hunger in an attempt to destroy Hamas and prevent another attack like October 7?  Could this suffering have been avoided by undertaking meaningful reform of Israeli security practices?

As former Israeli army commander Yehuda Shaul asserted, "I don't believe you can destroy Hamas with military force at all."  Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari similarly stated, “Hamas is an idea... anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.”

Notably, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, after visiting the West Bank in 2002, observed:

"Israel will never get true security and safety through oppressing another people.  A true peace can ultimately be built only on justice....

The military action of recent days, I predict with certainty, will not provide the security and peace Israelis want; it will only intensify the hatred."

In light of these voices, Israel must ask whether its current strategy in Gaza is not only failing to achieve its goals, but also perpetuating a tragic cycle of trauma and insecurity for both communities.

Terry Hansen, Milwaukee, WI