Blitz spirit to play into Hamas hands
Ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza Strip will strengthen Hamas support, Middle East expert warns
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Wednesday, 07, Jan 2009 07:39
Ongoing Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip will ultimately strengthen Hamas' position and fan the flames of radicalism, a Middle East expert has told inthenews.co.uk.
As dawn breaks on the 12th day of Israeli air-strikes and ground operations against Hamas, international efforts to obtain an end to the fighting have so far failed.
Protestors across the Islamic world and in major western cities have protested against the 'disproportionate' Israeli action which has killed more than 600 people. But many governments have not publicly condemned the strikes themselves.
As consternation from aid agencies grows over mounting civilian casualties, Chatham House's Nadim Shehadi told inthenews.co.uk that he expected the conflict would eventually play into Hamas' hands.
"There will be a conclusion from this, either the idea that Hamas only brings destruction and they have no other agenda, 'this is not who we want to lead'," he explained.
"Or Gazans will think that [Palestinian president] Mahmoud Abbas is in cahoots with the Israelis, Hamas were elected legitimately and the Israelis attacked them with the Palestinian Authority collaborators.
"I am sure there are people who think both these things."
Mr Shehadi explained that during military conflict it was impossible for civilian populations to sympathise with the attackers.
"Personally I think that when military action like this happens the anger is directed against the Israelis.
"During the Blitz in 1940s London people did not direct anger against Churchill and wish Chamberlain was still in charge," he said.
"Whether the action will ultimately strengthen Hamas is difficult to predict, but it will strengthen radical elements throughout the region.
"This happened in Lebanon, where Hizbullah gained popularity outside more than inside.
"Go to Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt; Hizbullah are the heroes who defeated Israel."