nostr:npub1fmn92m7d455s5raclhlxh4alyywrmpy6llfrt2sec0ylk0f9nrjsk7hf5g The Palestinian electoral problem is a bit more nuanced IMHO. True, Palestinians haven't been able to hold free elections since 2007. But the truth is that they wouldn't have much choice either - the PLO/PA has been largely confined to the West Bank, and it became voiceless even against the most brutal evictions in the area, and Gaza hasn't even been given the chance to develop a political alternative.

The existence of Hamas is also in Israel's interests after all. Israeli attempts of getting rid of Arafat became more intense once his political position started to become more moderate and open to dialogue in order to attract international sympathy for the Palestinian cause. If Hamas rules Gaza, the PA is basically exiled and powerless, and Gazans are given no choice, then Israel has a good argument for its ethnic cleansing - "we're bombing Gaza because of Hamas and his terrorists".

About the evacuations of civilians problem - yes, I definitely see that. Israel has also made sure to make it hard for Palestinians to come back to their homes if they decide to flee. But if I were in their shoes I may still opt for a sure exile over or a sure death (or at the very least the loss of their homes).

In an ideal world, the UN should have the power to push for a binding agreement that Israel needs to comply to before any land invasion of Gaza. That would include, at the very least, a plan for displaced Palestinians to come back to their homes (which means at the very least the concession of an ID that grants them a refugee status and greater freedom of movement), and a plan where Israel has to detail why such a military operation is the only available option, what's their definition of success and their retreat plan, and what they intend to do with the Gaza strip in case of success - which include a binding agreement that forces them not to repeat the eviction and occupation program they have implemented in the West Bank.

Unfortunately, we all know that such a sensible agreement would never pass the UN Security Council because of the US veto...