Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli hard right are pushing the proposal of displacing Gazans into the Sinai Desert, and even to Europe, namely to Greece and Spain, according to a document by the Intelligence Ministry. Some cabinet and government MPs such as Itamar Ben-Gvir have also demanded the return of Gaza to Israel.
Europe has to remind Israel that in its war against Hamas, it also has a responsibility over Palestinian citizens and to conduct its war according to the international rule of law. If Europe is forced to take on Gazan refugees, Europe will be put in a position to negotiate with Israel over the creation of the Palestinian state. The Palestinians never wanted to compromise on peace and Europe is the only potential mediator that can force both parties to compromise. In reality, even if Israel wins the war and subjugates Gazans to its control, the Gazans may still feel inclined to keep supporting Hamas or its Islamo-fascist successors. Many Israelis will agree with the hard right to retake Gaza and displace the Palestinians there so as to close a decades-old chapter of war that was forced upon them by Hamas.
The choices for Israel are not easy, and an increased European involvement would have surely helped to de-escalate the situation on both sides and provide better options, however, this is not the case. Israel is dealing with the Hamas problem by itself and it has little or no restraint in terms of international law.
Ideally, if the Arabs are genuinely interested in the fate of their Palestinian brothers and sisters, Hamas leaders in Qatar would be arrested and handed over to the European authorities to face war crime trials. This outcome would bring a swift conclusion to the war with Israel as a clear victor and the focus on Gaza would change from all-out war to operations of terrorist cleansing in collaboration with an international force and the international community that would eventually, help build the Palestinian state. Clearly, there will hardly be any lasting peace if Hamas leaders are allowed to operate with impunity.
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