Red Jahncke persistently promotes his preposterous position that, instead of invading Gaza, Israel should’ve contained Hamas by solidifying its borders. Ironically, his missive, reprinted from “Real Clear Politics,” is neither real nor clear.

It’s unreal to blithely ignore 20,000 Hamas rockets targeting Israeli civilians since 2007 or 3,000 fired just on Oct. 7. Per Jahncke, England was not justified in fighting WWII. Rather, England’s only recourse was to fortify the hills of Dover and absorb Germany’s aerial bombardments. I doubt Jahncke would accept such passivity if his home were under fire. Jahncke’s flight from this reality nullifies his conclusions.

Likewise, Jahncke thinks unclearly because he doesn’t understand the statement that Israel cannot eliminate Hamas as an “idea.” Again, WWII proves instructive. Nazism survives despite Germany’s defeat. Nevertheless, the Allies decisively eliminated the Nazi’s military, which had exploited German territory to amass an army and weaponry to terrorize and subdue its neighbors. That’s what Israel is doing.

Israel dismantled 14 of 18 Hamas brigades before Rafah and will complete that task soon. Israel has destroyed Hamas tunnels and factories, and, by seizing the Philadelphi Corridor, Hamas’ ability to rearm. The legitimate defensive objective, to remove the threat of indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza, was unobtainable by Israel just solidifying its border.

Harry Weller

West Hartford