Why Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel must confront extremism to move forward.
Why Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel must confront extremism to move forward.
The price of peace is high—but it’s necessary. It demands that we ask difficult questions and make real sacrifices. Calling for peace is easy; making it happen is a completely different challenge. Wars persist because both sides believe they have the capacity and will to keep fighting—until one side simply can’t anymore. Hamas, however, seems determined to fight until death. You can’t defeat that kind of fundamentalism with bullets or bombs—it only breeds more resistance fighters for the future.
It’s time for the war in Gaza to end. Attacks in the West Bank must stop as well. I’ve written about this conflict before. The famine caused by the blockade is a deliberate effort to force Hamas to surrender and punish the Palestinian people. But Hamas refuses to back down, viewing these hardships as necessary for its own goals.
The problem is simple yet profound: two radical, extreme sides of the same coin, both unwilling to compromise. Both are willing to do horrible things to each other. Israel has killed journalists and civilians trying to get food—in cold blood. It bombs anything that sustains Gaza, destroying its ability to function. The definition of legitimate targets has shifted to include schools and hospitals. Fundamentalism grips both sides—and that matters deeply. It’s why some people are now calling these actions genocide.
Benjamin Netanyahu, a master survivor of Israeli politics, wants to avoid prison and remain prime minister. With elections coming next year, he’s trying to split the vote and turn failure into success at the ballot box. The old man is desperate to avoid defeat—and The Hague.
Hamas wants to cling to power but can’t hold elections because Israel blocks them, undermining their claim to the land. Mirroring Israel’s political outlook, both want to stay in power at any cost, hanging on despite backlash caused by their own choices. They are creations of each other; both sides seem determined to ensure the two-state solution never sees the light of day.
To be honest, I haven’t been following the images closely—I’m trying to avoid graphic content. I’ve seen enough already. It breaks my heart. I believe the only way to resolve this is through harsh sanctions and the credible threat of peacekeepers—not just ending arms sales to Israel or recognizing Palestine as a state. The trade-off here is massive and unpopular. I doubt people would support being hit in their wallets, especially when many are already struggling with the cost of living crisis. Maybe some would be fine with it—I’m not sure.
Peacekeepers would need a clear mandate, public support, and the ability to defend themselves. They could quickly face violence. Worse still, they’d be tasked with protecting Palestinians and providing aid. Even this option isn’t risk-free, which is why no one’s willing to step up yet. No one wants the responsibility. That’s why suggestions about Americans doing it make me laugh. Trump, for all his flaws, has a good sense of the public pulse. I doubt he’d commit to anything that would pull America even deeper into this conflict.
In many ways, I think the only real solution is a single state where both sides live side by side. But we’re still a long way from that point. First, we need to deal with the famine. Then we begin restoring Gaza’s basic functions so people can live. That would be the start of any ceasefire, followed by a peace deal. We have to build trust between both sides, stop violence in the West Bank, and halt the expansion of settlements. After that, rebuilding institutions on both sides will be essential to moving forward. None of it can happen until the famine ends.
Getting everyone on the same page will be hard—especially with Israel’s allies. Israel seems indifferent to the damage to its own reputation. Slowly, one by one, those allies have moved toward recognizing Palestine as a state. I understand the frustration with the slow diplomacy process—it takes time, especially compared to the immediate impact of stopping arms sales or issuing press releases. But I suspect the main reason we haven’t seen more decisive action is the risk it would trigger problems elsewhere, particularly with America. Trump has shown he’s willing to rip up agreements if he doesn’t like what others do, making any firm stance riskier in that context. I don’t think people quite grasp that. The nuances around stopping arms sales are often missed—or never explained.
I’m frustrated like everybody else. Even if arms sales stopped, Israel could still continue its blockade. Worse still, what remains of Hamas’s senior leadership shows no interest in talking. Neither side seems to have any real desire to end this conflict. Which means it’s going to drag on for many more months.
I’m sure there are conversations happening behind the scenes—but no one’s listening. That’s why I believe the only option left is escalation. A proper peace plan would need to force the most extreme elements out from both sides. That could mean prison, exile—or worse, death. I don’t say that lightly. But if we’re serious about ending this, we have to confront the reality that fundamentalists on both sides will not go quietly. Peace will require more than words. It will require consequences.