In Gaza, Hamas is still the obstacle
Having welcomed Israel’s pledge to immediately ease the blockade of goods into Hamas-ruled Gaza, the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers on Monday warned that the current situation in Gaza is “unsustainable and unacceptable and not in the interests of anyone concerned.” It is a fine sentiment, but there remains an immutable obstacle to any lasting relief to the Gaza predicament. It is not Israel. It is Hamas.
Yes, Israel should allow the population of Gaza some degree of normality. One list of newly permitted goods included such things as children’s toys, towels, stationery, mattresses and a full range of food items. But now the Israeli security cabinet has wisely changed its approach, by banning specific goods, rather than continuing to permit only a list of particular goods, the rationale for which is hard to see. Before long, all consumer goods should be able to enter Gaza. The blockade should not be conducted as if it were siege warfare, in which a population is to be pressed to surrender. After all, the Israelis, both inside and outside government, do not want to regain control of Gaza.
But while Israel has promised “liberalization,” including expanding the importation of building materials for internationally supervised civilian projects, it is justified in maintaining the security blockade, on the highly legitimate ground of excluding matériel for warfare, including dual-use construction supplies that could strengthen Hamas.