So I wonder what Israel is going to do now that Hamas has decided to tactically retreat into the crowded cities of Gaza?  Rather than fight the ground troops of the Israeli’s, it seems a better manuveur for Hamas is to wait in the cities and force Israel to wage their campaign in the densely populated areas risking even more civilian casualties.

I admit, it is a very tactical move.  Do I think it is wrong?  Yes.  Hamas has used civilians and unassuming places to maintain bases for operations and rocket launching sites.  Their use of a district in Gaza for instance to launch rockets, bodes ill for all of the residents in that area, and they suffer the consequences for the actions of Hamas.  However in a struggle in which you have “homefield advantage” it is not a tactically wrong decision to use your land wisely.

And Hamas has the advantage of international sympathy.  For each additional Gazan civilian killed due to Israel’s campaign, the more heavily I believe the international community will lean on Israel to suspend their campaign.  In fact, on the outset of the bombing, rather than pass judgment on whether Israel should or should not be bombing, countries just asked that Israel avoid civilian casualties.

This tactical retreat could do one of two things.  It may place this situation in Gaza in a place where Israel is not willing to go, because it is a very good chance that civilian casualties will increase with a campaign in the city.  This minimizes the attractiveness of continued military action opening up the attractiveness of other solutions.

The other thing that could happen, which I think is more likely, is that Israel will pursue.  It would be in line with their first decision to begin the bombing campaign and continue it despite the outcry that has poured out around the world.  Israel is driven by a mission to deal a crippling blow to Hamas – the only tangible result they will see is one in which there is an obvious Hamas demise.  Allowing Hamas to retreat into the city without pursuit may look like a victory for Hamas, which would be the antithesis to what Israel is trying to accomplish.  I do not believe Israel will pursue Hamas with the intention of harming Gazans, but I think that their mission objectives are seated very highly on the priority ladder and preventing civilian casualties a far second.

If Israel takes it into the cities, what will the international community be willing to do?  Will U.S. and West European countries step up and not side with Israel for once in the history of the world?  Will other countries begin taking necessary steps to hold Israel accountable for rising civilian deaths?  

I hope Israel proves me wrong, and thinks twice about chasing Hamas into the heavily populated cities of Gaza.