I would hesitate to give Hamas credit for being politically savvy, more than to say that they have backers that instruct them on how to be politically savvy.

The ground invasion is such bullshit though. I really hate how Israel keep making out that they're "defending themselves", when they're clearly not in a defensive posture. The time for defense was 7 October, when it was conspicuously absent. They're performing a counter-attack, into foreign territory, with only a vague attempt at focusing on military targets.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml -2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I wouldn’t give Hamas credit for being politically savvy more than to say that they have backers that instruct them on how to be politically savvy.

Reexamine your prejudices. You might not mean it this way, but this is textbook colonial paternalism - an assumption that the colonized can't possibly be clever or disciplined or intelligent, that they must have puppet masters that helped them win against the superior occupying Israeli forces. Guerilla fighters in every colonial resistance throughout history have been characterized the exact same way. Angola. Nicaragua. It's always the same, it's always some outside puppet master that's behind every success of the resistance because the guerillas are too uncivilized and backwards to ever possibly achieve any kind of wins on their own or to strategize on the bigger picture.

[–] Limitless_screaming@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

If they can steal resources and dig up water pipes to make rockets out of them, then they can organize an attack against some dumb pieces of shit, who moved troops from the border to terrorize people elsewhere.

People should remember that the side which can withstand bombardment, blockades and live off of minimal resources probably has decent leaders, and an angry population.

[–] TWeaK@lemm.ee -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sure, there could be someone in Hamas who is politically savvy in such a manner. That's pretty unlikely though, less likely than outside influence in this case. I've edited my comment a little bit to better reflect that.

If Hamas were truly politcally savvy I think they would be far better at garnering widespread international support.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I think they've been good at gathering international support from Qatar, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey. With this latest act showing the weakness of Israel and the genocidal brutality of Israel's response, they might just win support from other regional powers as well. If this blows up in a regional war, Israel isn't going to have a lot of local allies because Hamas has cultivated a strong base of support in West Asia.

And it's not like gaining support from Westerners matters. Our governments are 100% behind Israel no matter what, so what's the point?

You're underestimating the political acumen of Hamas. Remember, they did get elected in Gaza. They're politicians and guerillas.

[–] TWeaK@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If this blows up in a regional war, Israel isn’t going to have a lot of local allies because Hamas has cultivated a strong base of support in West Asia.

There were lots of supporters on both sides of the war in Syria, also.

And it’s not like gaining support from Westerners matters. Our governments are 100% behind Israel no matter what, so what’s the point?

The point is that 100% support can still be undermined.

Remember, they did get elected in Gaza. They’re politicians and guerillas.

I've yet to learn the full details of the Palestinian electroral system, other than that it is quite complicated.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml -5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The point is that 100% support can still be undermined

I'm amazed you still believe that, honestly. As far as I can tell Israel's government support is iron clad and nothing can undermine it.

I’ve yet to learn the full details of the Palestinian electroral system, other than that it is quite complicated.

It definitely is, especially since the P.A. and Hamas can't (won't) form a government together and so elections have been suspended.

My point is Hamas isn't just a gang or something. They are a political organization filled with people who know what they're doing. It's a mistake to assume that they are merely the puppets of other actors like Iran. They have their own ideas, agenda, and understanding.