Israeli tanks and troops may at any moment enter the Gaza Strip, inaugurating a ground war that makes no sense except for the fact that Hamas is insisting on it.
Hamas shattered two years of relative calm last weekend when it began rocketing Israel’s southern cities. Yesterday, it killed three Israeli civilians — and Iranian-made missiles fired from Gaza exploded in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
Hamas is begging for it.
It may get it.
No nation — not the United States or any other — can reasonably be expected to put up with the daily hail of fire that erupts from Gaza.
So Israel perforce retaliated Wednesday, killing Hamas’ top commander and hitting another 340 targets in Gaza, aiming to militarily degrade the terrorist mini-state and weaken Hamas’ hold there.
But so far, Israel says its action has been “surgical and restrained,” targeting terror leaders and launching sites for short-range unguided rockets and the longer-range missiles supplied by Iran.
So far, Israel hasn’t aimed at arms Hamas hides in schools, mosques and hospitals.
So far, Israel has mobilized troops, but is holding off on a full-scale ground assault.
That could change.
For if Israel decides — for whatever reasons — that it must clean out the rat’s nest in Gaza and ensure the safety of its citizens, the only fair question is: What took so long?
Hamas hides itself among Palestinian civilians, inviting attacks on the very people it claims to represent. Which means the group is responsible for every Palestinian civilian injured in Israel’s operation.
And doubly responsible for the Israeli civilians its attacks maim and kill.
Which is why the United States must support Israel as it does what’s necessary to ensure its security — whether that means surgical strikes or a messier fight on the ground.
The opening moves earned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu widespread support in Israel: Even his rivals agree that he had to take out Ahmed al-Jaabari, the Hamas military chief.
We hope the Obama administration is as supportive in days to come. White House spokesman Jay Carney hit the right notes yesterday on Israel’s “right to self-defense” — but time will tell whether President Obama has Israel’s back if and when the battle escalates.
The current engagement is a microcosm of the larger fight: Israel goes after terrorists with pinpoint accuracy, doing its all to avoid civilian casualties.
Hamas fires hundreds of rockets — many of them simply unaimable — trying randomly to kill civilians.
Signs are that Israel doesn’t intend to draw down. Tens of thousands of reservists are being called up, and Netanyahu says he’s “prepared to expand” the initial assault.
Eradicating Hamas is a generational struggle, not something that can be brought about with an incursion lasting mere days.
But we hope more Hamas terrorists meet their maker in the meantime. A Gaza that is rid of Hamas will be better for Israelis and Palestinians alike.