Sinwar is dead, and Israel’s Netanyahu is offering a “pardon” for Hammas terrorists if they release the hostages. This is good, and I’m glad to see this statement in English, but it’s not enough.

Israel was never too good at explaining itself to the rest of the world, and the war in Gaza (and in Lebanon) is just another example. Many people do not understand the details, and some don’t even know why Israel went to war to begin with. Once again, Israel leads two steps in the direction of war and half a step in the direction of peace.

There’s no question: the hostages must be returned. But instead of waiting for whatever leaderless fractions remains of Hamas in Gaza to take the initiative, Israel should step in.

Sinwar is dead, and Hamas is in shambles. Gaza is a hip of rubble, with thousands dead and millions without a home. It’s time to stop the onslaught and step in with humanitarian aid. It’s time to call other Arab nations - and the US - to step in and help the Palestinians to get the freedom so many Americans and Europeans feel they deserve (I don’t believe the Palestinians in Gaza can care about freedom at this point; they are to concerned with surviving the next day). The Arab nations will fail and argue among themselves because they don’t care. They never did. The US might draw some plans to look good for the elections, with both sides having different versions. And Israel will pull up its sleeves: “Well, if no one’s gonna do it…” and get to work. Yes, while the hostages are still in the tunnels. While the world is still screaming about genocide. Israel can still maintain an army presence to protect a project like this while still looking for the hostages. One does not prevent the other.

This is the chance to move forward and show everyone another side to Israel. It’s the chance for Netanyahu to step forward and tell his blood-thirsty right-wing Ben Gvir and Smotrich monsters-ministers to put a sock in it. It’s time to show the Palestinians that Israel can offer a better alternative than Hamas ever could. It’s not that hard: the houses Israel will erect will not come with built-in tunnel entrances in children’s bedrooms, and the mosques will not come complete with weapons stockpiles in their basements.

Everyone will yell. It will look like an absolute shit show. But if Israel keeps at it, just like it kept with the war, something amazing will eventually happen. People will see that the only way to do something is to do something and not just talk about it. Hamas will be destroyed because it will stop having a reason to exist. And maybe, just maybe, after years of work with help from other nations that will slowly join, Palestine will be free, with support from everyone, including the Israelis right next door who won’t go anywhere - not the river, and not the sea.