RALEIGH, N.C. — Families are preparing to bury their loved ones as the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies.
Israel has ordered people to get out of the northern Gaza Strip and move south.
Bruce Jentleson, a professor of public policy and political science at Duke University, notes that there are critics on both sides in the war between Israel and Hamas.
“This started with the notice of a horrendous, not just terrorism incident, but a whole military operation using terrorists’ tactics against Israeli civilians, men, women, children, Holocaust survivors, and now it’s escalated to Israel’s attack on Gaza, ordering over 1 million people to evacuate to another part,” Jentleson said.
He says some people are critical of what Hamas did and others are critical of what Israel has done.
“One has to be critical of Hamas," Jentleson said. "There’s absolutely no justification for their barbaric acts they did against Israel, and also one is critical of Israel. While there is a right to respond, the notion of ordering 1 million people to evacuate when hospitals are overcrowded also doesn’t have its own justification and basic values."
He says the United States has long been committed to Israel’s security.
“The United States is providing military equipment, ammunitions,” Jentleson said.
The United Nations has already asked Israel to reverse its order for Gazans to evacuate.
Jentleson says it’s hard to have a humanitarian corridor in a small area when trying to move 1 million people, including some who have been in hospitals.
“Part of it is to the extent that Israel needs to make sure that it’s secure against any future Hamas efforts, I agree with that objective," he said. "I think this strategy is counterproductive to that, both on the ground and the way the international community is responding to it.
"So the notion that we have a right to do anything we want to do not just is a values question, but is this really working for you, and I don’t think this is going to help Israel achieve security,” Jentleson added.