Hamas is embedded, civilian casualties are sadly inevitable

'Israel can never do business with terrorists sworn to its destruction'

- Ross Clark

EVER since the Hamas attacks of October 7, it was inevitable that the Israeli Defence Forces would launch a ground attack on Gaza. No country or society can or should tolerate the brutal murder of its citizens by a terrorist organisation.

Just as the US, in association with European allies, sought the elimination of al-Qaeda after 9/11 and the destruction of Isis following more recent attacks, not only does Israel have a right to enter the Gaza Strip and destroy Hamas, it will be doing the world a favour by doing so. Other terror groups, whether well-established or in embryonic form, need to know that murderous campaigns against civilians are not a legitimate form of asymmetric warfare. The perpetrators of such attacks do not deserve to be treated with the respect afforded to defeated military enemies; they simply need to be neutralised.

After three weeks of skirmishes, it seems that the ground attack is now imminent. It has been held back partly to allow ordinary Palestinians to flee from the northern end of the Gaza Strip, which will face the brunt, and partly at the request of the US, which wanted time to defend its own citizens and interests in the region.