Operation Iron Swords Has Failed As All Other Military Operations Have Failed ~ To Create Peace

How many innocents must die?

 About three months ago Operation Iron Swords began. There were two objectives: to free the hostages and to utterly and completely destroy Hamas. Those two objectives have not been met.

The IDF has not destroyed Hamas and they have not liberated the hostages. In fact, they have done just the opposite. They have turned many Palestinian civilians into Hamas fighters and managed to kill multiple hostages in friendly fire while more than 100 hostages are still being held.   

Look to any news agency you want; you will read a variation on this story:

'Israeli tanks and troops, under cover of intense air, ground and sea bombardment are engaging Hamas fighters in intense hand to hand battles while advancing on the ground.'  

In simple honest words, neither side has gained the upper hand. Hamas is fighting a superb asymmetrical guerrilla war while Israel fights a traditional send in enough troops, destroy enough infrastructure and kill enough civilians in terror attacks and you will destroy the other sides will to fight. Israel will not admit it, but it has already lost the war. Why do I say they have already lost? Because...  

Iron Swords has not achieved its goals. It has shown how weak Israel is. Even with unlimited US military support (two carrier task forces, munitions and electronic support) in roughly three months of the most intense modern war recorded to this date they have not been able to defeat or even seriously degrade a non-state militia.  

It's time to put the swords down and lift up the pens to sign an honest peace treaty.

The Green Man