Israel on the brink of a mistake in Gaza: the consequences could be severe

Maariv columnist Ran Adalist warns that Israel risks repeating past strategic mistakes by trying to rely on local armed forces in the Gaza Strip. He draws parallels with Lebanon in 1982, Judea and Samaria in the 1970s, and Syria, where tactical alliances turned into long-term problems. The main question is who will govern Gaza after Hamas.

Maariv columnist Ran Adalist warns that Israel may repeat one of the most controversial strategic mistakes in its history by attempting to use local armed forces and groups to fight adversaries in the Gaza Strip. In his view, the problem is not in individual IDF operations, but in the concept itself: Israel has repeatedly tried to find a force within hostile territory that, with external support, could oppose a common enemy. The author draws parallels with Lebanon in 1982, where an alliance with Christian Phalangists led to the Sabra and Shatila massacre and the subsequent emergence of Hezbollah, as well as with the creation of "village leagues" in Judea and Samaria in the 1970s, which did not become a stable political force. He also mentions the situation with the Druze in Syria. Adalist believes that arming weak or competing groups can not eliminate the problem, but turn it into a prolonged internal conflict. The main question remains open: who will control the Gaza Strip if Hamas finally loses the ability to govern the territory. The publication is an opinion column and contains political assessments.