Israel drove suitcases stuffed with cash into Gaza to keep Hamas in power: New York Times

[Grim Reaper 6]

Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power. The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu's critics, and the man's own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak. Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn't think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.

In 2018, Netanyahu's administration came up with a plan, according to the New York Times. As part of a peace agreement with Hamas, Qatar would bring millions into Gaza to distribute to Gazan families, the outlet reported. Though the money was meant for Gazan civilians, Western intelligence determined that Hamas was taking money from the funds to use themselves, the outlet reported.

Israel drove suitcases stuffed with cash into Gaza to keep Hamas in power: NYT (msn.com)

[Kittens Are Jerks]

More on this subject from The Times of Israel:

For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces

For years, the various governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu took an approach that divided power between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — bringing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to his knees while making moves that propped up the Hamas terror group.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

Eighty percent of Israelis hold Netanyahu personally responsible for failing to prevent the Hamas attack, and more than half want him to resign once the war in Gaza is over. Unfortunately, the next Israeli election is not for another three years, and it's unlikely that Netanyahu will resign before then. There is, however, one possible way to remove him sooner, but that would require five or more members of his pre-war governing coalition voting against him in the Knesset. Not sure how likely a possibility that is.

[Grim Reaper 6]

34 minutes ago, Kittens Are Jerks said:

More on this subject from The Times of Israel:

For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces

For years, the various governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu took an approach that divided power between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — bringing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to his knees while making moves that propped up the Hamas terror group.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

Eighty percent of Israelis hold Netanyahu personally responsible for failing to prevent the Hamas attack, and more than half want him to resign once the war in Gaza is over. Unfortunately, the next Israeli election is not for another three years, and it's unlikely that Netanyahu will resign before then. There is, however, one possible way to remove him sooner, but that would require five or more members of his pre-war governing coalition voting against him in the Knesset. Not sure how likely a possibility that is.

I certainly agree with you and what I cannot understand is why there were no military bases protecting the settlements closest to the border with Gaza. When, this attack occurred on Oct 7th I was shocked that attack was even successful much less as devastating as the attack was. I never thought Israel would be so lacks with their security, especially since Israel has always been thought to have some of the best intelligence services in the world. I certainly don't blame the Israeli people; this entire situation falls directly on the shoulders of Netanyahu and the current government.

[Kittens Are Jerks]

41 minutes ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

I certainly agree with you and what I cannot understand is why there were no military bases protecting the settlements closest to the border with Gaza. When, this attack occurred on Oct 7th I was shocked that attack was even successful much less as devastating as the attack was. I never thought Israel would be so lacks with their security, especially since Israel has always been thought to have some of the best intelligence services in the world. I certainly don't blame the Israeli people; this entire situation falls directly on the shoulders of Netanyahu and the current government.

Netanyahu is obsessed with building border walls/barriers, but they've proved not to be the panacea he thought they'd be. It's clear Hamas had outside help as their ability to break through Israel's high tech barrier showed a level of sophistication not previously exhibited by them.

Years of subterfuge, high-tech barrier paralyzed: How Hamas busted Israel’s defenses

Israel long thought the high-tech security barrier dividing it from the Gaza Strip — bristling with razor wire, cameras and sensors, and fortified with a concrete base against tunnels and remote-controlled machine guns — was impenetrable.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/years-of-subterfuge-high-tech-barrier-paralyzed-how-hamas-busted-israels-defenses/

[Setton]

6 minutes ago, Kittens Are Jerks said:

Netanyahu is obsessed with building border walls/barriers, but they've proved not to be the panacea he thought they'd be. It's clear Hamas had outside help as their ability to break through Israel's high tech barrier showed a level of sophistication not previously exhibited by them.

Years of subterfuge, high-tech barrier paralyzed: How Hamas busted Israel’s defenses

Israel long thought the high-tech security barrier dividing it from the Gaza Strip — bristling with razor wire, cameras and sensors, and fortified with a concrete base against tunnels and remote-controlled machine guns — was impenetrable.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/years-of-subterfuge-high-tech-barrier-paralyzed-how-hamas-busted-israels-defenses/

So....

Walls don't work?

Who knew...

[Grim Reaper 6]

1 minute ago, Kittens Are Jerks said:

Netanyahu is obsessed with building border walls/barriers, but they've proved not to be the panacea he thought they'd be. It's clear Hamas had outside help as their ability to break through Israel's high tech barrier showed a level of sophistication not previously exhibited by them.

Years of subterfuge, high-tech barrier paralyzed: How Hamas busted Israel’s defenses

Israel long thought the high-tech security barrier dividing it from the Gaza Strip — bristling with razor wire, cameras and sensors, and fortified with a concrete base against tunnels and remote-controlled machine guns — was impenetrable.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/years-of-subterfuge-high-tech-barrier-paralyzed-how-hamas-busted-israels-defenses/

Thanks, that is an interesting article I certainly learned something I wasn’t aware of. But, it gets back to my previous thoughts on the subject as stated in the article there were few actual soldiers on the ground. Based upon my military training it has been well known that unmanned fixed fortifications without ground support are not reliable. Another interesting point that has been overlooked is the fact that 80%+ of those who crossed from Gaza into Israel were lightly armed civilians using civilian vehicles not trained military members of Hamas. All I can say is this entire situation blows my mind, I think this attack will be talked about for many years to come.