Former Israeli PM/President Shimon Peres: Israel has exhausted military option, Abbas’s rule in Gaza must be restored http://t.co/wGAroo4klH

— lawhawk (@lawhawk) July 30, 2014

I think that’s about right. Of course, how does someone get Hamas to relinquish power in Gaza to anyone, let alone Fatah’s Abbas? Hamas isn’t about to give up power and control in Gaza, nor is it likely to lose elections there that are supposed to be held by the end of the year. We’d likely see a repeat of the last Palestinian elections, with Fatah holding on in the West Bank and Gaza held by Hamas despite the crushing toll Hamas rule has had on the region.

The fight hasn’t gained Gazans anything but an ever higher body count, misery, and the destruction of homes, buildings, schools, and infrastructure, but Hamas still thinks they can outlast Israel. Israeli policy hasn’t been able to dislodge Hamas, and intensifying attacks in Gaza has only worsened Israel’s position in world media. Peres seems to understand this, but still comes up against the billion dollar question of how to dislodge Hamas.

No one else has figured this out either.