Flood the zone with food and medical supplies, take away Hamas' leverage, end the war.
By Alexandra Benjamin
Let’s be clear. I believe that the starvation in Gaza is a moral outrage and that is enough of a reason to oppose the policies that have created it.
But even if you set aside the moral case it is also a political and strategic disaster for Israel which will cause us to lose this war. And it is not Hamas nor the international community but this Israeli government who is to blame for that.
‘But Hamas are the ones who won’t accept the ceasefire fire deal that includes lifting aid restrictions’ people say. That’s true. But this Israeli government is still responsible for that. Let me explain my logic.
Hamas won’t agree to a ceasefire as long as they believe they have leverage.
Right now the international pressure on Israel in reaction to the terrible images of starvation and suffering in Gaza is giving them that leverage and making them believe that if they hold out a bit longer Israel will be forced to cave. They’re probably right. Suffering in Gaza hurts Israel more than it hurts Hamas.
This inept, immoral and frankly idiotic government has just two responses. They either deny that Gazans are suffering or they point out that the fault lies with Hamas and not Israel. Then they accuse the international community of giving Hamas more power by focusing their pressure on Israel. It’s not cutting it. It’s not working. They need to understand the most basic rule - you can’t change someone else’s behavior. You can only change your own.
To take away Hamas’s power, to win the war and to protect the Israeli public - basically to do their job - Israel should be flooding the zone. Send in as much food and medical supplies as possible and then send more. Cooperate with the aid agencies on the ground to distribute it. If Hamas steal 25% of it, increase it by 50%. This strategy would
- drive down the value of the food in the strip, reducing its profitability for Hamas
- remove the population’s dependence on Hamas as a source of food
- take away Hamas power within the strip
- change the images of starvation coming out of Gaza thereby placating the international community and changing the narrative
- harm the efforts of our enemies who are trying to turn Israel into a pariah state
- remove Hamas’s power at the negotiating table.
This is the only way to achieve the goals set out for this war - remove Hamas from power and return the hostages.
At the end of the day wars aren’t won on the battlefield but on whether those victories can be leveraged for long term strategic and diplomatic gains.
Our government is failing us.
Our government is not up to the task
Once again our government is not fulfilling its most basic duty to protect the Israeli population.
It’s time to end it.
Alexandra Benjamin is a writer in Jerusalem.
The views and opinions expressed in this essay are the author’s own and not necessarily shared by other contributors and supporters of the New Mexico Jewish Journal.
For more context read:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/experts-say-gaza-at-worst-case-scenario-famine-about-to-cause-widespread-death/ Times of Israel July 29th
Times of Israel diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman articles, which further examine the issues in depth. (Times of Israel).
Read "Wrestling With Public Statements; Rabbi Neil Amyswch" in this issue. Rabbi Neil Amswych's Friday night sermon was reported on by the Jewish Telegraph Agency, after which the NY Times interviewed him. Then read the Open Letter he and more than 1,200 Conservative and Reform Rabbis all over the world, and counting, have now signed, here.
Read The Jewish Chronicle, London: Masorti rabbi leads open letter accusing Israel of ‘callous indifference to starvation’.
Read the Reform Movement Statement on Starvation in Gaza, Central Conference of American Rabbis here:
Community Supporters of the NM Jewish Journal include:
Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico
Congregation Albert
Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque
The Institute for Tolerance Studies
Jewish Federation of El Paso and Las Cruces
Temple Beth Shalom
Congregation B'nai Israel
Shabbat with Friends: Recapturing Together the Joy of Shabbat
New Mexico Jewish Historical Society
Where the North Ends, A Novel by Hugo Moreno
Policy Statement Acceptance of advertisements does not constitute an endorsement of the advertisers’ products, services or opinions. Likewise, while an advertiser or community supporter's ad may indicate their support for the publication's mission, that does not constitute their endorsement of the publication's content.
Copyright © 2025 New Mexico Jewish Journal LLC. All rights reserved.
