A solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nobody is talking about

The indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is no doubt one of the worst humanitarian tragedies in recent memory.

News anchors and talking heads lament the situation, but finally submit that there appears to be “no other solution”, and that Israel has a “right to defend itself”, and therefore must act in the way that it is currently acting.

But is this true? Is there really no other solution to this barbarity?

Win them over with kindness

The solution to violence is not violence, but kindness. What if Israel’s response to the horrific events of October the 7th was not one of hostility, but rather one of empathy?

Pro-Israel voices always claim that they feel for the Palestinian people who are “held hostage by Hamas”, even though it is clear from Israel’s actions that they do not view Palestinians being held hostage the same way they view their own citizens being held hostage.

Well, okay, how about we do this at the very least in the name of humanity:

1. Establish secure humanitarian military-run camps and field hospitals in Israel, away from the Gaza Strip
2. Open the border between Gaza and Israel in strategic locations, and allow the most vulnerable Palestinians (think babies in incubators, pregnant mothers, elderly, young children) to cross into Israel and be hosted inside these camps in Israel, so they can get the care that they need
3. Depending on how successful this is, and any lessons learned from it, allow other refugees to come into these camps in Israel in phases
4. Provide the best care possible, and win over the hearts and minds of the people, with an aim to one day live peacefully as neighbours

Once Gaza is reasonably empty, continue the fighting with Hamas as needed. This way, combatants can fight it out amongst themselves, and Israel can actually claim to care about non-combatant civilians in Gaza.

Why not?

Why is nobody talking about bringing Palestinians into Israel at all? Why is everyone only talking about Arab countries absorbing them?

Does Israel not have an obligation and responsibility as an occupying force over the population it is occupying?

It sounds like the kindness approach would actually benefit Israel’s interests and relationship with its neighbours and its global standing – and most importantly – its relationship with the Palestinian people.