The modest quantities of aid that Israel is once again allowing into Gaza could prove to be a slippery slope. As long as the amounts are small, symbolic, and intended to prevent starvation among the population while giving Israel a diplomatic lifeline to conduct intense military operations in the Strip, and even afford it some international legal protection, so be it. That might be tolerable. But Israel's experience with such policies is not promising. We've been down this road before.
The quantities of aid that flowed from Israel into Gaza were staggering. They did not address any supposed hunger crisis, a crisis that at no point truly existed, but instead filled the territory's food warehouses to overflowing, enriched Hamas' coffers as the terrorist organization seized the aid by force, sold it to residents at inflated prices, and used the profits to pay salaries for newly recruited terrorists. This is how Hamas preserved its grip on power over Gaza's population: deciding what they would eat, how much, and at what cost.
Israel fell into this trap due to a progressive-leaning Democratic US administration, whose values and situational awareness were flawed, and due to its near-total dependence on the weapons and diplomatic umbrella provided by Washington. The Biden administration failed to grasp, at least not in real time, that the aid Israel was compelled to transfer to Gaza was prolonging the war, increasing the suffering of the hostages and their families, and strengthening and preserving Hamas' power. Only later did its officials acknowledge as much.
A dangerous absurdity
The Trump team, in contrast, seems to understand. But their problem is that their own value system has also shifted. They are now prioritizing their overarching economic interests above all else. During Trump's most recent visit here, his people made promises to the Qataris, Saudis, Egyptians and Gulf states that "humanitarian aid" to Gaza would be renewed in one form or another, and they are now pressing us on that basis.
Israel must learn to say no, even to the current US administration. The aid to Gaza throughout the months of war has been the root of all evil. But for this folly, the terrorists of Hamas in Gaza could have long been defeated. The fact that it is now the Trump camp pressuring us to return to this policy is absurd.
With one hand, we send five IDF divisions into Gaza in preparation for a full-scale ground maneuver, and with the other, we strengthen the very enemy those divisions are meant to defeat. We stiffen Hamas' position regarding the hostages and potential deals, and we prolong the war with our own hands.
We have already learned: Hamas fights better on a full stomach. And we have also learned that Israel has thus far failed to direct aid solely to civilians and to prevent Hamas from hijacking it. There is little reason to believe this time will be any different, though time will tell. The real danger lies in the slippery slope, where there is no control over what, or who, slides downward. Israel must be exceedingly careful not to go there.
