Ever since the Israeli government decided against embarking on a war in the Gaza Strip, the sense of disappointment has been rife across the political spectrum. Few have dared to admit that a war against Hamas would be completely futile. Hundreds and possibly thousands of Gazan fighters and civilians might be killed. If past wars are any indication, dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians will likely meet their deaths. If the number of fatalities is not a true measure, what then would qualify as a victory?
No one seriously believes we can conquer Gaza, kick out Hamas, establish military rule or make Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas our puppet king. Would Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the man who insists on being appointed defense minister, be so kind as to explain, beyond the empty slogan of "Let me and the IDF win," what the solution is?
In a war against Gaza, those who have something to lose will lose. This is something our military and political leadership understands now more than ever, which is why it is not pushing for a military confrontation. Gazans, by contrast, have nothing to lose. Sewage flows through their streets. There is no drinking water. They have no livelihoods. They do not live lives of dignity. For them, all that remains is to fight to the last drop of blood for their future. As Hamas' leader in Gaza Yaya Sinwar said, "We are eager to break the siege and provide decent lives to our people."
In an October interview with Italian newspaper "La Republica," Sinwar said, "Who wants to confront a nuclear power with four slingshots? And if we can't win, for Netanyahu it's worse than losing because it will be a fourth war. And it cannot end like the third, which ended like the second, which ended like the first. They will need to reconquer Gaza. And I don't think Netanyahu would want another 2 million Arabs. No, nothing is achieved through war."
In that same interview, Sinwar said he would be willing to negotiate with Israel.
Israel understands there is no military solution to the bleak situation in Gaza. We cannot defeat a city in which a majority of residents are civilians. For over a decade, we have tried to break the spirit of Gaza's leaders without much success, because they have the support of a population that lives difficult, bitter lives. One must therefore welcome the cabinet's decision not to be dragged into another military escapade.
Only a diplomatic solution will put an end to our misfortune and their tragedy. With all the emotional difficulty involved, Sinwar is a partner for negotiations. They say he has blood on his hands. In the eyes of the Palestinians, former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz also has blood on his hands. This is the reality in which we live.
The next government should appoint a minister for peace with Gaza and the Middle East, not blindly follow the false promises of those who yearn to be ministers of war.
