Israel Should Act to Remove Hamas from Gaza

The recent announcement of a “famine in Gaza” by a UN-backed agency appears to be a tactic aimed at defending Hamas’ control over the territory under humanitarian pretenses, even as Israel begins targeted operations against the group’s key strongholds in Gaza City.

Claims by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification team suggest widespread malnutrition, with 30% of children severely malnourished based on upper-arm measurements taken from a representative sample. However, no concrete photographic evidence has emerged to verify these claims, raising questions about the narrative of a humanitarian crisis.

There is also ongoing misinformation regarding aid delivery: Israel insists it allows humanitarian supplies into Gaza but with armed guards to prevent confiscation by terrorists. Despite this, some reports falsely paint Israel as preventing aid, which is not the case.

Hamas has intermittently offered to free remaining hostages if Israel agrees to a ceasefire that leaves Hamas in control—an unacceptable proposition. If Hamas truly intends to release captives immediately, negotiations could be feasible. Absent that, Israel must continue its military objectives to dismantle Hamas’s influence and infrastructure in Gaza.

Hamas has long taunted Israel with conditional offers for hostage releases, demanding political concessions and security guarantees that effectively sustain their regime. The attack on October 7, 2023, marked a turning point, ending illusions that Israel could coexist with Hamas.

Many Western nations continue to support a Palestinian state but overlook that Hamas violated a ceasefire on October 6, killing 1,200 innocents and kidnapping many. Over the past two years, Hamas has inflicted severe harm within Gaza itself—using civilians as shields, stealing aid, and violently suppressing dissent, all in violation of international laws of war.

Hamas’s own videos document its brutality, from atrocities on October 7 to the disturbing footage of captives forced to dig graves. Importantly, Hamas’s ultimate objective is not Palestinian nationalism but a return to power capable of launching future attacks.

Real peace requires Hamas’s removal from Gaza. Immediate action—such as freeing hostages and accepting exile—would halt the violence. The Israeli government, led by President Netanyahu, should pursue a ceasefire that prioritizes the safety of captives and the destruction of Hamas’s military structures. International support should reinforce that Hamas has no place in Gaza’s future, and Israel must have full backing in its efforts to reclaim stability and freedom for Gaza’s population.