Israel’s Secret Weapon Isn’t a Bomb - It’s a Humanitarian City

The Hamas tactic is clear and deliberate: seize control of humanitarian aid, deny it to the general population, or sell it at exorbitant prices - all while fueling international pressure on Israel to cease its military operations. This is not new, but in recent weeks it has reached a dangerous crescendo.

At the same time, in closed negotiation rooms, Hamas continues to raise its demands to outrageous new heights - including the release of Nukhba terrorists who committed atrocities on October 7: rape, murder, and massacre.

And yet, Israel’s response remains too slow, too incremental.

A Strategic Humanitarian City

Israel must shift from defense to initiative. One powerful move would be to establish a controlled humanitarian city - south of the Morag axis - and direct the civilian population there in full. This strategy would serve several key objectives:

Hamas-held territories must be emptied of food entirely. Aid should only exist in areas under clear Israeli control. That way, civilians will be drawn into zones where Israel is the sole authority. This transition in control is not just logistical - it is strategic. It weakens Hamas not through battle, but by undercutting its hold over the people.

Israel Must Stop Outsourcing Control

The problem is that Israel, at this stage, is unwilling to take direct control over Gaza’s population. This hesitation has left it dependent on Hamas as a kind of subcontracted enforcer - and Hamas, predictably, is demanding a high price for the privilege.

This situation is not sustainable. Israel must leverage the current humanitarian crisis to reshape its policy and implement a new doctrine: one that uses enemy tactics against them, just as in Krav Maga — redirecting the enemy’s force to weaken them from within.

Control over food is not just a moral obligation. It is a weapon of legitimacy, governance, and strategy. Hamas understands this well. It is time Israel does too.