What’s Next for Gaza and Hamas?

When it comes to what will happen in Gaza once the expected IDF offensive begins, the only thing we know is what we don’t know, which is just about everything.

I love how we are getting reports that Israel has told the residents of Gaza City to ‘evacuate’ their residences before the expected HAMAS-cleansing operation begins. Which would be all fine and well if the military invasion and occupation of Gaza were going to be over and done with in a couple of days.

I mean, if someone told me that I had to sleep out of doors or maybe in my car from today through Wednesday, it would be a pain in the ass, but I’d get it done. But what if I had to live that way for six months? Or maybe for a year?

After all, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, went on CNN yesterday and said the military operation in Gaza might take months, or even longer. And the head of the Palestinian Authority posts a statement on their website which said that HAMAS doesn’t speak for the ‘Palestinian people,’ even though HAMAS won a 2007 election in Gaza to do exactly that.

But let’s not dwell on a few minor verbal comments here and there. After all, the United States has been actively engaged in Near East peace efforts for only some fifty-plus years, so what’s the big deal if the conflict drags on for a few more years, right?