Israel's war against Hamas — which has turned the blockaded and then besieged Gaza Strip into a post-apocalyptic wasteland — is now in its third month. Hamas, an Islamist militant and political organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union, has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. It's a brand, and as long as there are a group of living Palestinians who want to call themselves Hamas, Hamas still exists. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe"To 'eliminate' or destroy Hamas, Israel will have to destroy the root cause of Hamas, its reason for existence. Israel taking away that motivation, and getting the illegal settlement problem solved, will make it much easier for Arab nations to support Israel.

---

Persons: Hussein Ibish, Israel perforce, Ben Hodges, Israel Organizations: Hamas, U.S, Union, United Nations, CNBC, Gulf States Institute, U.S . Army, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Iran, Qatar, Washington, U.S . Army Europe