It should be axiomatic, having established Hamas’ violent intentions and past, that Israel should not indirectly aid its bellicose neighbors in terrorizing Israelis. Allowing construction materials, which Hamas has used to construct missile silos in densely-populated areas and tunnels for infiltrating Israeli territory, would cause more strife than continuing the blockade [5][6]. In previous conflicts, Israel has been forced to destroy stockpiles of missiles aimed at Israeli civilians which dramatically increased collateral damage. Hamas’ provocative placement of missiles, akin to a war crime, demonstrates how it does not have the best interests of Gazans at heart [7]. Due to Hamas’ absolute control over the Strip, letting construction materials into Gaza is essentially equivalent to giving Hamas more resources to pursue terror at the expense of Gazan civilians.

Hamas terrorists persistently infiltrate Israel, using tunnels or breaking through the security barrier, to attack innocent Israelis. This underscores the necessity of a fully closed border [6]. Israeli citizens living in southern Israel should not be forced to live in a constant state of panic. Ensuring the safety of civilians is the mission of any country’s national security apparatus. No special exception should be made at the expense of Israel. Israel’s blockade is often blamed for the strip’s state of destitution, as Gazans lack many fundamental resources for survival. However, to blame Israel is to ignore Israel’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza and Hamas’s exploitation of such efforts [8]. The root cause of Gaza’s squalor is Hamas’ theft of necessary resources from the people of Gaza, not Israel’s indifference to Palestinian suffering.

Irrespective of Hamas, ending the blockade would jeopardize the core issue of Jewish statehood. The last seven months of protests along the Gazan border have not been about the blockade and the ramifications of resource shortages. Rather, Palestinians have protested about not being able to return to the land their ancestors fled in 1948 [9]. By admitting nearly 2 million hostile Palestinians into Israel, the so-called “right of return” would undermine the very existence of a Jewish state. Unfortunately, according a comprehensive Anti-Defamation League study, 93% of adults in the West Bank and Gaza hold anti-Semitic views [10]. In practice, this hatred has manifested itself in protests, as Palestinians send makeshift incendiary devices into Israeli territory attached to kites or balloons [1]. A Jewish state could not survive with a population so inimical to Jews and Jewry.

Ultimately, the naval blockade of Gaza is not solely in Israel’s hands. Even if Israel were to unilaterally remove its navy from Gaza’s waters, a blockade would still be in place. In coordination with Israel, Egypt implements a similarly stringent blockade on the Strip. Although Egypt has facilitated de-escalation between Hamas and Israel in their previous wars,Egyptian President  Abdel Fattah el-Sisi still has a vested in maintaining the blockade and quashing Islamist terror on his borders [10]. In the years following the deposition of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt and Israel have enjoyed closer ties. Israel should not waste its diplomatic leverage with Egypt over Gaza. In the meantime, Israel should do what it can to alleviate Gazan suffering without compromising security. Understanding this principle, the Israeli government has expanded the fishing zone in Gazan waters and has made sure that it does not unnecessarily  take electricity away from Gazans [1].

The rule of Hamas in Gaza eliminates the possibility of substantial political cooperation; the constant threat of terror against Israelis necessitates the blockade. In a world indifferent about the safety of Jews and the existence of Israel, the Israeli government should take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of its people and the survival of a Jewish state.