by Richard Martin
If I were Israel, I’d have mined the sea approaches to Gaza, set up acoustic and seismic sensors on the seabed, and have regular sea patrols to prevent anything coming in and out. Right now, other than what is provided through the IDF and coming in at Rafah, Israel seems to have effectively sealed off Gaza.
Note that Egypt has a massive wall along its border with Gaza and is closely controlling ingress and egress, probably in close collaboration with Israel.
The reason this is coming to a head is that Israel is winning. Hamas is being ground down to a nub, with most of their fighters dead or captured, and Israel effectively eliminating the leadership. Israel will do what it takes to destroy Hamas and anyone who supports them, while continuing to keep Hezbollah at bay.
One of the claimed reasons for the humanitarian is to increase deliveries of humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians (i.e., NOT through the IDF). They tried air dropping supplies, but people were being bonked on the head in the mad rush to access them. Air drops also can’t meet the quantities supposedly required. Meanwhile, Hamas and their UNRWA allies continue to commandeer what they can. Also, there are videos of Gazans ambushing delivery trucks coming from Egypt at the Rafah crossing point and assaulting/lynching truck drivers.
Here is the sequence so far:
1. People claim Israel isn’t doing enough, while commandeering/stealing what IS coming in through Egypt and funnelling it to Hamas.
2. Let’s try air dropping humanitarian supplies. That’s not enough and is killing people for various reasons.
3. Let’s bring in humanitarian supplies by sea. That means we need a temporary pier. This the current situation.
If Israel lets this go beyond point 3, then the following, future sequence will occur:
4. That temporary pier is not enough. Let’s build a permanent pier and a permanent bridgehead. Supplies start moving in bulk under Hamas control.
5. Hamas leadership escapes into the Mediterranean while arms and military supplies are moved in. Also, more fighters.
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