February 05, 2008... Gaza: FAQ.

Q: Is Gaza the world's biggest open prison?

A: Gaza is not the world's biggest open prison. Gaza is an area with internationally agreed to boundaries to be administered by the Palestinian Authority, particularly Fatah, which has responsibility for who and what crosses the southern border with Egypt. This is supplemented with a contingent of EU monitors as a confidence measure for Israel, which administers the other border crossings into Israel and on to the West Bank.

Q: Is Gaza a state?

A: Gaza is a state to the extent that a state is defined as an area wherein an authority has the exclusive authority to use force and raise taxes/contributions by way of coercion. However, Gaza is a state dedicated to projecting deadly aggression towards Israel under the umbrella of international norms, that its present leadership refuse to adhere to. Thus, Gaza can more properly be categorised as an area from which 'enemy combatants' are comparatively free to launch aggression against Israel and/or others, yet enjoy international support. Welcome to the twilight zone.

Q: Who is presently in charge of Gaza?

A: Hamas is in charge of Gaza because they won a democratic election and forcibly ousted Fatah from Gaza.

Q: If Hamas is democratically elected, why is Hamas a problem?

A: Hamas is a radial Islamic group dedicated to life under the Shariah, the destruction of Israel and any other state which does not adhere to Shariah principles. Thus, even though Hamas is democratically elected, it does not follow that they have a right to destroy everyone else. Conversely, no one else has the right to destroy Hamas simply because of Hamas' beliefs. However, everyone else does have the right to destroy Hamas whenever Hamas promotes its beliefs by way of deliberate aggression masquerading as fighting oppression.

Q: Is Israeli retaliation collective punishment?

A: When the people of Gaza elected Hamas they already knew and wholeheartedly agreed with Hamas' mandate of the destruction of Israel and any other state inconsistent with Hamas and its goals. Democracy was understood by Gazans to be the instrument which would provide international legitimacy for such a mandate. Therefore, when Israel retaliates with targeted assassinations, for example, in order to minimise civilian casualties, it is reasonably and responsibly acting in self defence. And when Israel stops supplying fuel or goods and services as an alternative retaliatory measure, it is collective punishment in so much as Hamas's electorate--the majority--will suffer the consequences of not having established alternative supplies from Egypt or other neighbouring states who refuse to supply them, for a number of political and ideological reasons not too far removed from those of Hamas'. In short, any punishment tending towards collective, is an unavoidable consequence of the situation chosen by the Gazans.

Q: Hamas has suggested a cease fire, why is this not acceptable?

A: A cease fire is simply a short term ruse to enable Hamas to become a greater adversary. Along with its associates and counterparts, Hamas has no intention whatsoever of giving up its sworn goals, as already specified.

Q: Why not engage in direct talks with Hamas?

A: Because direct talks--like democratic outcomes--confer a degree of international legitimacy, direct talks cannot be contemplated until Hamas--as per vital preconditions--sign on the dotted line the recognition of the state of Israel and agrees to the halting of all direct or indirect aggressive action towards Israel, there can no direct talks with Hamas beyond simply saying 'No', over a telephone and/or an alternative media outlet. Nevertheless, Hamas is being indirectly talked to in case they can be persuaded to accept the necessary preconditions for direct talks. The preconditions are vital because Israelis have the right to their lives and property irrespective of Hamas's current desire to the contrary.

Q: Is Hamas the only threat?

A: No. Hamas is simply the biggest threat of the moment by virtue of enforced solidarity and military superiority in comparison to the alternative Islamic factions, at this time. Today Hamas, tomorrow... who knows. This is why Israel and/or anyone else is finding it so difficult to make agreements which can be kept. For instance, the agreements reached with Fatah are all rejected by Hamas.