‘Israel will aim to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities’

Dr Ahron Bregman, a former Israeli army officer who had fought in the 1982 Lebanon War and is now an academic at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, says that Israel’s aim next would be to hit Hamas hard to destroy its military capabilities. The author of several books, including Israel’s Wars: A History since 1947 and Cursed Victory: A History of Israel and the Occupied Territories, feels that the Hamas’ attack on Israel should be strongly condemned by nations of the world. “If the condemnation is not strong enough then other extreme organisations might try to mimic Hamas and attack the West,” says the 65-year-old whose memoir The Spy Who Fell to Earth has been made into a movie in which he acted as himself.

He emphasises, “There should also be an important lesson for the Israelis, which is that it would be impossible to keep the lid on this boiling pot which is the Gaza Strip forever.” Bregman, who was also an associate producer and consultant on two BBC television series, hopes that events such as the ones we are now witnessing are often game-changers in building peace.

The Spy Who Fell to Earth is based on Bregman’s friendship with Ashraf Marwan, the son-in-law of the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Bregman and Marwan had a strange relationship, which started with the former calling the latter a Mossad spy. Marwan denied it, but he and Bregman nevertheless became buddies. Marwan made Bregman a consultant on his memoirs. Intriguingly, on 27 June 2007, the day Bregman and Marwan were due to meet up in central London, the Egyptian’s body was discovered under the balcony of his London flat. Edited excerpts:

Was Hamas the kind of opposition Israel always wanted in Gaza in place of moderates who would have more global legitimacy than Hamas? 

Officially, and like many other nations, Israel regarded Hamas as a terrorist organisation, but, on the ground, it accepted it and even strengthened it so that it could efficiently compete with the Fatah leadership on the West Bank. Playing one branch of the Palestinian movement against the other, went the Israeli thinking, could weaken the Palestinian movement, and prevent it from establishing a Palestinian state. Thus, for instance, the Israelis would allow Qatar to transfer funds to Hamas in Gaza to help it stay in power. Well, in hindsight we can say that it was not a great idea.

What do you expect Israel to do now and what would be the consequences of harsh military actions?

The Israelis are making preparations to invade the Gaza Strip. The endgame, so to speak, is not yet spelled out by the government. But I believe that the aim would be to hit Hamas hard, to destroy its military capabilities, so that it won’t be able to repeat the atrocities it inflicted on Israel on Saturday (October 7) ever again. A harsh response, the Israelis hope, will also deter other enemies from trying to challenge Israel. A terrible war with many casualties is imminent.

What are your thoughts on using Biblical and other ancient texts to buttress claims for nationhood or ownership of territories?

As a secular, Israeli-born individual (now living in the UK), I don’t think that one should use Biblical, or any other ancient texts, to justify claims for nationhood and taking over lands.

What ought to be the key learnings from this attack on Israel?

The attack on Israel should be strongly condemned by nations of the world. If the condemnation is not strong enough then other extreme organisations might try to mimic Hamas and attack the West. But, in a Middle Eastern context, there should also be an important lesson for the Israelis, which is that it would be impossible to keep the lid on this boiling pot which is the Gaza Strip forever. In the Strip, there are 2.2 million people who live in terrible poverty and, as long as they live in such conditions, they will want to break out and fight for their freedom.

Are rays of hope (for peace) anywhere in sight in the region?

Not at the moment, I’m afraid. It is the time of war. And yet, such events as the ones we are now witnessing are often game-changers. One could only hope that some good will emerge from these horrific tragedies.

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Ullekh NP

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