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Israel's Goals in Gaza Are Legal and Just

(X) Maj. (ret.) John Spencer - To claim that Israel has already achieved its goals and should end the war is not accurate and is disconnected from reality. Likewise, saying that Israel cannot achieve its goals is also untrue. Israel's goals in Gaza, as stated clearly and consistently by its political leadership, are: return all hostages; dismantle Hamas's military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza; and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. These three goals are both legal and just in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, when Hamas invaded Israel. In response, Israel exercised its rights under Article 51 of the UN Charter and declared a self-defense war against Hamas. This legal framework affirms the inherent right of a nation to defend itself following an armed assault, and Israel's military operations in Gaza are grounded in that right. Many commentators rely on double standards that are applied only to Israel, such as measuring legal adherence to the laws of war by citing daily casualty counts from the enemy force, which is an internationally designated terrorist organization. This is not how war is assessed for any other nation. Moreover, the idea that an attacking military must present a plan for replacement governance before the opposing force has been defeated through force or surrender is another double standard. Victory and defeat must come first. Replacement comes after, not before. Israel has been providing humanitarian aid to the enemy's population during wartime, while battles are ongoing, while the enemy still controls territory, continues to launch attacks, and holds hostages. Israel has done this out of moral responsibility and to balance military objectives with humanitarian imperatives. However, the argument that this is a legal requirement is a double standard. The writer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point.
2025-08-03 00:00:00
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