The Whole Middle East Is Counting on Israel to Destroy Hamas

If they see Israel as weak and not a dependable ally, the likes of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt would have little choice but to align with Iran.

Much remains unknown about Saturday’s horrific attack on southern Israel—the worst in Israel’s history, including wars, in terms of the number of civilians killed and kidnapped. But some things are already clear.

First, it was made possible by Israel’s 2005 pullout from the Gaza Strip. Terrorism from the West Bank has never approached this scale; the second intifada (2000–2004) didn’t achieve in four years what Hamas did in two days from Gaza—over 1,200 fatalities (civilians and soldiers). And the key difference is Israel’s military presence.

Israel’s presence in the West Bank makes it much harder for Palestinian terrorists to build up massive arsenals, whether through smuggling or homegrown production; Hamas in Gaza does both. That’s why virtually no missiles are fired at Israel from the West Bank even as Hamas fires thousands from Gaza every few years: the Israel Defense Forces are there to suppress both smuggling and arms production.