Israel is pulling out all the stops in its response to this weekend’s Hamas terror attacks. The IDF has announced that it is cutting off all power, food, and water to the Gaza strip. The results of this action will be immediate because Gaza relies almost exclusively on Israel for all of its supplies and infrastructure. Travel restrictions will prevent Palestinians from crossing the border into Israel for work. It’s possible that Palestine could seek an agreement with Egypt to replace those resources, but it’s unclear whether or not the Egyptian government would be willing to risk the wrath of the West by aiding the terrorists. This will be seen by pro-Palestinian sympathizers as some sort of cruel and unusual punishment, but Israel should feel no obligation to provide such services to the monsters that have opened a war against them. (Associated Press)

Israel vowed to lay total siege to the Gaza Strip on Monday, as its military scoured the country’s south for militants, guarded breaches in its border fence and pounded the impoverished, Hamas-ruled territory in the wake of an unprecedented weekend incursion…

In an effort to further ratchet up the pressure on Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and prevent food and fuel from entering the territory. He said Israel was at war with “human animals,” using the kind of dehumanizing language often heard on both sides at times of soaring tensions.

Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power, but in recent years Israel had provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out.

At the same time as the siege began, the Israeli Air Force began pummeling Gaza City and other known Hamas headquarters and facilities. Smoke could be seen rising over the city and fires were breaking out in various places. Reporters near the border repeatedly saw Israeli fighter jets passing over and missiles continue to rain down on the terrorists’ homeland. (NY Post)

The Israeli Air Force has begun striking targets throughout the Gaza Strip following a massive barrage of rockets fired into Israel by Hamas terrorists on Monday.

“The Air Force is now launching an extensive attack on many centers of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” the branch wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Even at this time, the Air Force continues to attack dozens of targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the air force posted minutes later.

We’re already hearing protests from pro-Palestinians in America over the decision to shut off Gaza’s electricity and food supplies. The defenders of Hamas claim that the Palestinians “had no choice” because they are “occupied.” What many people don’t realize is that the people living in the Gaza strip don’t have any resources of their own because Hamas provides them with virtually nothing. Hamas is a terrorist organization and offers few if any governmental services. Israel hasn’t “occupied” the Gaza strip for nearly twenty years, and they voluntarily provide basic necessities to the people of the Gaza strip. If Hamas was doing anything to provide for the people of Gaza, Israel wouldn’t have this sort of leverage over them.

Are there “normal” Palestinians who do not participate in terror attacks? Probably. But as far as Israel is concerned, we are probably reaching the point of adopting the adage of Cistercian abbot Arnaud Amalric who essentially said, ‘kill them all and let God sort them out.’ I’m aware of how harsh that sounds, but Israel is quickly running out of options and its enemies are growing more bold. If the non-terrorist Palestinians truly want peace and security, they have a solution available to them. Rise up and oust or kill all of the leaders of Hamas, cut all of their ties to Iran, and form a new government that is willing to live and work in peace with the Israelis.

Up until now there has only been one “aggressor” in this war and it’s been Hamas. They are the terrorists who seek to wipe Israel off the face of the map. They bear the responsibility for what is happening to them this week. And we now know that at least nine and as many as a dozen Americans were killed during the attacks this weekend. If we had leadership with any sign of a recognizable spine, we wouldn’t simply be “supporting” Israel. We would have Raptors and Super Hornets bombing the crap out of Gaza City ourselves right now and not leaving it up to the Israelis to do the dirty work. If they kill ten of ours, we should take ten thousand of theirs. It’s time for the permanent end of Hamas and a dire warning to all of the sponsors of terror who support them.