Observation: Hamas Presence Spreads In Northern Gaza - IDF Should Enforce Blanket Ban On Long Arms For Gaza Strip Immediately

Observation: Hamas Presence Spreads In Northern Gaza – IDF Should Enforce
Blanket Ban On Long Arms For Gaza Strip Immediately
Dr. Aaron Lerner, 16 January 2023

As Israel pulls out of the northern Gaza Strip Hamas forces are already
returning to the area ostensibly to fill the gap.

In any scenario, local Gazans would undoubtedly be involved in maintaining
law and order in “the day after”.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if the United States argues that lower level
Hamas who don’t have blood on their hands can qualify to engage in police
activity within the framework of a civilian authority which is not Hamas
run.

However, realistically, there is no effective way to screen the local Gazans
to prevent this “local police force” from including terrorists or Gazans who
ultimately become terrorists.

And an effective local police force requires armament.

Restricting the local police force to handguns provides them with the
capability to maintain order while significantly reducing the damage they
can do if they are ultimately terrorists.

A blanket ban on long arms in the Gaza Strip dramatically simplifies
enforcement of the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip by categorizing anyone
observed possessing a long arm as a terrorist.

Israel insists on having a free hand to conduct security operations in the
Gaza Strip as a core element of any “day after” scenario. Consequently, this
would extend to dealing with anyone observed possessing a long arm.

We need to establish this principle on the ground at once so that it can
become a core principle for the future.

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