We can’t do that. It will take way too long. This plan can’t possibly work. These responses to my Gaza Plan are why it will work. Nobody expects it. Military strategists from Sun Tzu to B. H. Liddell Hart warned us to avoid the obvious line of attack and do the unanticipated. The Germans took France in WW II forty days through the “impassable for armor Ardennes.” An imaginative plan right out of Hart’s “Strategy.” 

A bloody, massive attack on Gaza to score a quick knockout of Hamas and retrieve, if possible, the hostages are expected by nearly everyone. The problem is in the face of an enemy well prepared for the strike; it will be anything but quick. What is the incentive for Hamas to release any hostages? Worse, with so much of Israel’s assets tied down in door-to-door fighting, it invites assaults from other directions. This situation may be Iran’s plan.

Instead, Israel only sends a demolition team with air and ground cover to set charges in the easiest-to-reach group of Gaza buildings. After giving the occupants time to leave:

1. Bring down the structures.
2. Move on to the next group of your choosing.
3. Keep contracting the circle around Gaza City Port. 

Hamas can end the destruction anytime by releasing the hostages, stopping all attacks, and the map of all tunnels, allowing the Israelis to destroy them. Any further attacks mean immediate resumption of the destruction—an open-ended solution neutering Hamas.

It probably will take some time for the potential leveling of Gaza to sink in on Hamas and its backers. In the meantime, relief agencies and others can bring all needed necessities through the port. The caveat is the ships leave with a complement of displaced Gazans. No Gazens onboard, you don’t go.

In any case, given the massive needs, Hamas will have to turn over the running of the port to a consortium of relief agencies to stave off a humanitarian disaster. Trusting Hamas isn’t an option, and the agencies have the leverage. They would be the ones to implement the program.

Prioritizing women with young (under 10) children and older people (over 75) is humane and sensible. Other nations are more likely to accept these refugees than military-age men. We will quickly find out who has who has compassion. Shame has to play a part. Let’s see who in the Muslim world turns the children away. P.R. is important.

It may prove advantageous for the U.S., Europe, and Israel to help charter more ships to speed up the process. If Israel picks up the pace of destruction, more ship space is essential. Leaving the vulnerable unsheltered in Gaza for long isn’t an option.

How long will this take? Ask Hamas. They can end the destruction anytime. From the Israeli point of view, it will take as long as it takes. Using only relatively small demolition teams and their cover, they only expend limited resources in the amount and timing they choose.

Leaving the bulk of Israel’s forces available for deployment elsewhere, widening the war will look much less appetizing to the Jewish nation’s foes. Using Google Maps to mark suspected Hezbulla Homes for destruction if they attack Israel and posting them online may bring home what happened to Gazans, and you’ll be next.

This plan will only have a good outcome. Either Hamas stops attacking, returns the hostages, and gives up the tunnel system, or in the future, there will be no Gazans in Gaza.

We’ll hear protests claiming we can’t treat the innocent Gazans so severely for so long. Many may grow wobbly because of the myth that most Gazans, indeed most Palestinians, don’t back Hamas’ horrendous actions. But the vast majority support Hamas and other groups, stating they want to remove Israel from the face of the earth.

The only election ever held in Gaza was won by Hamas. The most recent A.P. poll shows a majority of all Palestinians support Hamas. Fatah, the only party not stating they want to destroy Israel, comes in at 14%. Prominent people keep repeating this myth about peace-loving Gazans. For instance, Nicky Haley recently echoed the falsehood most Gazans wish to be free of Hamas. There is no basis for this fable; we must recognize this fact and treat these people for who they are.

A strange outcome afforded by this plan is most migrating Gazans will be better off. As I pointed out in the last post, 80% are desperately poor, surviving only on the generosity of International Agencies and charities. These benefits should follow the migrants to smooth their journey and transition into their new homes. The receiving nations will be more receptive if the newcomers are less burdensome. 

Taking the time to put an actual solution in place will be better for everyone. The great war strategists tell us to stay calm and use what is in shorter supply than munitions today: imagination.