Israel at War: Gaza Invasion, Qatar Divestment, and Hamas Primer

Middle East Forum Israel - Gaza War Updates

By Gregg Roman ● Oct 30, 2023

Smart Brevity® count: 8 mins...2064 words

In this briefing, we will provide you with a comprehensive update on the escalating Israel-Gaza conflict. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced a significant expansion of the ground offensive into Gaza, with the dual objectives of debilitating Hamas and ensuring the safe return of hostages. We will delve into the intricacies of urban warfare in Gaza and the potential ramifications it poses.

The role of Qatar in supporting Hamas and providing a safe haven for its leaders has come under intense scrutiny. We will explore its implications for the regional stability of the Middle East. In parallel, we are initiating a grassroots campaign advocating for divestment from Qatar. This campaign underscores the necessity for American financial institutions to prioritize sustainable values over short-term monetary gains.

We are closely monitoring Iran's regional mobilization, particularly its implications for Israel and US forces. Also on our agenda is the issue of funding for pro-Hamas activities within American universities, where we are advocating for increased transparency. Furthermore, we will probe the influence of multiculturalism on the dialogue surrounding the conflict, particularly within the academic sphere.

Lastly, we provide a detailed analysis of Hamas, aiming to provide context on the motivations, objectives, and the role of this Islamist group within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Let's proceed.

Netanyahu Announces Second Stage of War

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the second stage of the campaign to destroy Hamas with an expanding ground offensive into the Gaza Strip.

Why it matters: The expansion of ground operations aims to destroy Hamas' governing and military capabilities and bring the hostages home.

The big picture: The Prime Minister portrays the war as a fight for justice against evil, and Israel is determined to eradicate Hamas for the sake of humanity.

What's next: The war will be long and hard, but Israel is ready to fight and defend its homeland.

Israel's Delayed Ground Operation

Twenty two days since the massacre, Israel has achieved nothing. It’s time to go in full force.

Why it matters: Is a committed ground operation delayed by indecision, lack of will, or a mistaken belief there is a pain-free way to defeat Hamas?

Israel continues to boast about eliminating B-level commanders and destroying Hamas infrastructure, but Hamas's ability to threaten Israel remains unaffected.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been forced into shelters, IDF reservists are out of the economy, and diplomatic initiatives are suspended.

The bottom line: Israel cannot achieve its war aims without a massive ground operation into the Gaza Strip.

🔴 Urban Warfare in Gaza

Israel's potential ground invasion of Gaza poses significant challenges in urban warfare.

Why it matters: Urban warfare in densely populated areas like Gaza City is bloody, slow, and complex, with advantages for the defender.

The big picture: The IDF is not built for urban combat, and a ground invasion would require overcoming numerous challenges.

What's next: The IDF will need to use tools like isolation, superior technology, and combined arms maneuvers to overcome the challenges of urban warfare.

No More Business as Usual with Qatar

Qatar must be held accountable for supporting Hamas and hosting its leaders.

Why it matters: Qatar's support for Hamas contributes to the violence and instability in the region.

Hamas's main office is in Doha, where its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, resides and leads a life of luxury.

Qatar has provided significant financial aid to Gaza, effectively supporting Hamas's control over the Palestinian enclave.

Qatar also owns Al Jazeera, a news service accused of supporting terrorism.

The bottom line: U.S. firms must divest from Qatar and stop doing business with a state that sponsors terrorism.

MEF Launches 'Divest from Qatar' Campaign

The Middle East Forum (MEF) is spearheading a grassroots campaign urging American investment firms and privately-held corporations to divest from Qatar in response to its support for the Hamas-led massacre in Israel.

Why it matters: American financial giants must champion long-term values over a myopic concern with profits.

The big picture: Qatar, a chief sponsor of Hamas, indirectly funds Hamas atrocities through financial partnerships with U.S. companies.

What's next: MEF is working with Congress to deter future investments from Qatar by labeling it a state sponsor of terrorism.

Affinity Partners, AlTi Global, Inc., Apollo Global Management, Ariel Alternatives, Atlas Merchant Capital, Blackstone, Fanatics, Inc., KKR, Liberty Strategic Capital, North Road Company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and Pershing Square Capital Management each received MEF letters calling for Qatar divestment.

You can take part in the campaign by clicking here.

Arsonist and Firefighter: Understanding Qatar's Role in the Region

The war between Israel and Hamas appears to be in a holding pattern.

Why it matters: The United States saysQatar's role in regional diplomacy is crucial.

The impact on humanitarian efforts: The impact on humanitarian efforts is significant, as Qatar's role in regional diplomacy is crucial in facilitating solutions for Gaza and ensuring the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Qatar aligns with Islamist and jihadi politics to increase its influence and power. The country’s strategy has destabilizing results and supports various Islamist organizations.

The consequences of Qatar's alignment: The consequences of Qatar's alignment can have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East and may impact regional alliances and relationships.

The bottom line: Qatar should no longer be allowed to carry a flamethrower in one hand and a fire hose in the other in regional diplomacy.

Iran's Regional Mobilization

Israeli forces are preparing for a ground offensive into Gaza to end Hamas rule, but a larger mobilization is happening across the Middle East.

Why it matters: The Iran-led regional axis, including Hezbollah, is positioning itself for potential intervention, threatening Israel and US forces.

The big picture: Iran has built a unique army of controlled militias, combining Islamist fervor with state-supplied capacities, and is now preparing for action.

Yes, but: Israel is responding to attacks but hopes for a change in the situation.

What's next: The mobilization is evident, and the situation is unpredictable.

Pro-Hamas Funding: Time for Transparency

Radicals on American college campuses are siding with Hamas after the Israel/Gaza border attack.

Why it matters: American universities receive massive sums of money from pro-Hamas countries, and transparency is needed to understand the influence.

American universities receive significant funds from countries supporting Hamas and terrorism.

We need transparency about these transactions to understand the extent of foreign influence.

The bottom line: The DETERRENT Act aims to enforce transparency and prevent bad behavior in foreign funding of American universities.

Multiculturalism Begets Tribalism: Hamas in Our Universities

In the Middle East, doing harm and being cruel is sometimes seen as a virtue and a duty, and the region is viewed as a war of all against all. McGill University student groups denounced an article that described the Middle East in this way, demanding punishment for its author, Philip Carl Salzman.

Hamas's recent invasion of Israel and their brutal acts of violence support the author's writings.

Jew hatred and anti-Israel sentiment are prevalent in universities, fueled by postcolonial theory and critical race theory.

Multiculturalism has led to tribalism.

Significance: The critique of Salzman's article and students’ endorsement of Hamas underscore the complexities of maintaining freedom of speech and the impact of identity politics within the realm of academia.

The big picture: The Middle East's political environment and the rise of Hamas's violence provide a broader context for understanding these ideas.

What's next: The consequences of multiculturalism, some of its proponents support for Hamas and the impact on university talk need to be further examined.

White House Hosts Hamas Fans

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hosted a White House roundtable with five prominent Islamist organizations in the United States, three of which have promoted pro-Hamas propaganda after the October 7 attack.

Why it matters: The information is important because it reveals the concerning ties between the Department of Homeland Security and organizations with troubling connections to the global Islamist movement.

The big picture: The event highlights the involvement of DHS and FEMA in promoting the safety of houses of worship in the U.S., while simultaneously engaging with organizations that have expressed support for Hamas and demonized Israel.

Yes, but: The Biden Administration's recent promise to send $100 million to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip raises questions about the White House's continued support for these organizations.

Unanswered concerns: The White House should address the unanswered concerns regarding the potential conflict between the DHS's engagement with these organizations and the Biden Administration's financial support for the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Webinar: MEF Gaza War Update

Alex Selsky and Benjamin Baird discuss the current situation in Gaza and the potential challenges for IDF ground troops.

Why it matters: The discussion sheds light on the complexities and risks involved in a ground counter-offensive in Gaza.

The big picture: The IDF is considering a ground operation to eradicate Hamas, but diplomatic efforts and the safety of hostages are factors delaying the decision.

What's next: The IDF will continue to assess the situation and plan a deliberate and highly choreographed operation.

Book Review: Blaming Pro-Israel Christians for Palestinian Problems

Western intellectuals on the Left view the external history of Europe and North America as a bloody trip of displacement, genocide, and oppression.

Why it matters: Leftist intellectuals see Israelis and Palestinians through the lenses of guilt, remorse, and self-hate.

In Ottoman Palestine in the Victorian Age, the author, Gabriel Polley, documents how Protestants from England and the United States wrote about the Holy Land during the mid-to-late-1800s, affirming their pre-existing ideas about the reliability of the Bible and the superiority of the Protestant faith over Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism.

Polley accuses English Protestants of using the 1856 Nablus uprising to promote anti-Muslim bigotry.

The bottom line: Western intellectuals blame pro-Israel Christians for Palestinian problems, ignoring the agency of Arab leaders and the responsibility of Palestinians themselves.

Understanding Hamas and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Mark Durie lays out a comprehensive guide to the Islamist group in his new 8 part series for MEF: A Primer on Hamas.

Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and one of two parties in power among the Palestinians.

The group's goal is to carry out Islam and strictly, and its charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas is rooted in ideological differences and historical tensions.

While Israel adheres to international laws of war, Hamas follows Islamic rules of war, which allow for the killing of combatants and the enslavement of prisoners.

The current Israeli offensive in Gaza aims to defeat Hamas and achieve victory.

Antisemitism is also a factor in the conflict, with Hamas promoting anti-Jewish stereotypes and conspiracy theories.

The group's ideology is influenced by Islamic teachings that portray Jews as contemptible and treacherous.

The bottom line: Understanding the motivations and goals of Hamas is crucial for finding a way to defeat the organization.

Go deeper: See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8 of this series.

🌍 MEF’s Campaign to #DefeatHamas

The Palestinian cause died on October 7, 2023, assassinated by fanatic elements mired in an Islamist ideology of the worst kind.

Why it matters: The Middle East Forum stands at the forefront to push for an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

By the numbers: We have 1,700 Israeli activists mobilized across the country’s demographics strata to whip support for Israel Victory. Thousands more Americans and Europeans have participated in our campaign outside of Israel.

The big picture: The transformation of Israel Victory from radical idea to mainstream consensus opens unprecedented opportunities for the Middle East Forum.

Join us by clicking here.

You can also support us by clicking here.

As we conclude this update on the Israel-Gaza conflict, I want to emphasize the importance of staying informed about the complexities of the Middle East. Our mission at the Middle East Forum is to provide you with accurate, in-depth analysis and insights into the ever-evolving dynamics of this crucial region.

In these turbulent times, understanding the motivations, strategies, and consequences of events in the Middle East is paramount. We remain committed to shedding light on critical issues, fostering transparency, and advocating for Western values in the face of complex geopolitical challenges within the Middle East. Thank you for your continued support, and please stay engaged as we strive to bring clarity to this complex and vital part of the world.

Sincerely,

Gregg Roman
Director
Middle East Forum
www.meforum.org