Every time Israel finds itself dragged into another escalation in Gaza, the question is raised: What does Hamas want, and why is it dragging Israel and the residents of Gaza into another round of violence, in which there are no winners, just losers?
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The commonly accepted explanation, of course, is Israel's actions, such as freezing the transfer of "protection" money from Qatar to Hamas or its measures in Jerusalem. Even the hotter weather and heightened tensions are employed to explain Hamas' rationale. That is to say, the end of the month of Ramadan, ahead of Palestinian "Nakba" (national catastrophe) day, and of course the riots on the Temple Mount.
During the current round of violence, some have attributed some deep mode of thought or even long-term planning behind Hamas' actions, supposedly predicated on its desire to establish itself as the leading force in the Palestinian arena.
Hamas expected to do very well in the Palestinian Authority parliamentary elections and was disappointed when PA President Mahmoud Abbas called them off. Hence, Hamas is now exploiting the opportunity that fell into its lap, in the form of the heated tensions in Jerusalem, and wants to punish Abbas by firing rockets and missiles at Israel. By doing so, it is trying to become the preeminent force on the Palestinian street, not just in Gaza but in Judea and Samaria as well.
There's quite a bit of truth in all of this. However, Hamas doesn't get any credit for any sophistication or deep thought. At the end of the day, after all, we are talking about an armed and violent gang, not a state, which seized control of Gaza and is managing it as any criminal gang would. Violence is in the group's DNA and is always its preferred solution to problems, whether domestic or against Israel.
Moreover, violent terrorist gangs such as Hamas aren't interested in the distant future or the day after. Their only consideration is the daily fight for their own survival and grabbing the loot from Qatar. Hamas has nothing to lose by sparking a round of violence, and just the fact that it survives the fight is, in its view, an achievement.
Hamas is not a state, which is why its finger will forever be easy on the trigger. The attempt to relegate and confine it to Gaza also won't work, because its gaze will always be fixed on Judea and Samaria.
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All of this notwithstanding, we must, of course, note the deep rift at the base of the recent events, which are yet another chapter in the ongoing conflict between Jews and Arabs over this land. As long as the other side refuses to come to terms with Israel's existence, these rounds of violence will continue. The only thing capable of preventing them is Israel's deterrence capabilities.
The bottom line, similar to previous rounds of fighting, is that everyone pays a price. Israel, though, continues forward, strong and victorious. Meanwhile, the Palestinians, and by the way, also the incited rabble of Arab Israelis that have rioted in the streets, remain behind with nothing to show for their actions, backward and lagging.
Eyal Zisser is a lecturer in the Middle East History Department at Tel Aviv University.
