Why Hamas Has No Chance Against Israel

Today I'm sharing a very special post from Itai Siman Tov , a commander on the front lines in Gaza. Here is the original post in Hebrew. His post only has 120 shares - hopefully that number will get higher:

"Hamas is stronger than the left.

It is also stronger than the right, and the full, full right. And from Bibi + Ben Gvir = Big Love Forever

Our enemy is stronger than Israeli high-tech, and the settlements enterprise. The do-gooder Tel Avivians have no chance against them and neither does the periphery.

But Hamas has no chance against Israel.

When we are all united, and mobilized, they go back into their caves and pray for a ceasefire.

This war stuck me in a tank, trapped with two religious guys who only served a year and four months, Smotritz and Ben Gvir voters who I apparently have nothing in common with.

But , recast us into one unit, a tank crew. At a certain point we gathered courage and started talking about everything. About LGBT people, about high school, public transportation, core studies, even sexuality, everything.

And what did we discover? That we agree on about 90 percent of the issues. Let's assume they were being very nice and didn't go into details with me then about 80% of the things.

Until about a month and a half ago, they were the enemy, we met on both sides of Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, and now Hamas has reminded us that we are actually on the same side.

Until about a month and a half ago, they were the enemy, we met on both sides of Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, and now Hamas has reminded us that we are actually on the same side.

Our politicians derive their power from the separation between us. They take the 10% - 20% of our disagreement and make it the main thing, because that is what gives them the mandate to 'represent' us, to fight on our behalf. They do it at the expense of our security, at the expense of our welfare, at the expense of our taxes and at the expense of our freedom (also our freedom to pray by the way).

I see a lot of people looking for ways to contribute to the war effort,

Underwear, socks, cigarettes and fighting equipment.

Moroccan mothers who sent us fish and couscous for Shabbat, and retired kibbutzniks who drove these pots to the ends of the country (because maybe it's better for them not to do the cooking).

High tech guys came to install 360 surround cameras on the tank for us, which the army is not quick or flexible enough to do on its own.

And some boys from Gav'ot that the army didn't even agree to recruit, came on Saturday, cut, sawed and welded so that we would not enter Gaza without canopies that protect us from drones.

For me, the most important contribution you can make is to unite as a people, and work on getting closer. Focus on what we have in common and leave our differences aside. Come up with the frameworks that will bring us together outside the army as well. I know it's complicated due to things like kashrut, modesty, and mixing or not mixing men and women, but I have faith in you.

This is the most important thing, that we will be a nation.

Because we soldiers, from a whole range of tribes, enter enemy territory and risk our lives not for any government or politician.

We do this for the people of Israel.

Please, leave us a nation to return to."