Israel shouldn't have waited so long to deal with Hamas

I was born and raised in Amsterdam. I'm currently an English lecturer at Sapir Academic College in Sderot, Israel, and I live in Beer Sheva.

Picture this: A "tzeve adom" (red alert) is sounded, giving you a 15-second warning of a rocket attack in your area. Is there enough time to find adequate shelter? Maybe, it depends on where you are at that exact moment and what you're in the middle of doing. Are you showering? Are you watching your two children playing outside in the yard, while the third, a baby, is sound asleep in her crib? Or are you driving back from the gym with your sister, eager to get home to your husband and four children? This is the situation Irit Sheetrit, of Ashdod, found herself in on the evening of Dec. 30. She immediately stopped the car and quickly ran to a bus stop, which she figured would provide some protection. Tragically, she was killed by the rocket that landed mere seconds later.

The murder of Irit Sheetrit could have been prevented some 6,000 rockets and eight years ago. Yes, the people of Sderot and its periphery have really been enduring this terror for eight whole years.

The terrorist organization Hamas does not deny launching rockets at kindergartens, playgrounds and houses. In fact, they cheer and parade in the streets of Gaza when an Israeli civilian is killed by a rocket attack (much in the same way they did following 9/11 in America).

How can anyone possibly negotiate with terrorists who delight in launching rockets from their own schools and hospitals, all the while using their own children and hospital staff as human shields? Hamas has made it abundantly clear that not only do they seek the destruction of Israel, but that they could also not care less about the fate of their own people.

The question shouldn't be "is war necessary?" Instead, we should ask ourselves in bewilderment, why did the Israeli government wait so long to defend its citizens? There are a couple of reasons — fear of world condemnation and a hope that Hamas would one day renounce terrorism (especially after Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza back in 2005, thereby giving Palestinians a chance to focus their energy on building a state of their own). The desire for peace among the Jewish people has been so fervent that many are willing to disregard Hamas' own threats and actions.

This war for survival is eight years overdue. Anyone still naive enough to believe that peace can be negotiated with Hamas terrorists (or any terrorists for that matter) after eight years of rocket attacks, is living in complete denial. Terrorists do not compromise.

Unlike Hamas, Israel actually cares about the Palestinians living in Gaza. That is why, ever since the start of Operation Cast Lead, Israel has notified the people of Gaza, in advance, of an attack on Hamas targets. Israel is trying to destroy rocket launch sites while minimizing civilian casualties in the process. Further, Israel opens its borders into Gaza for humanitarian aid and medical treatment in Israeli hospitals. Israel is not on some mission of aggression and revenge. If that was the case, Israel would have attacked Hamas nearly a decade ago.

Both Hamas and the Israeli government are to blame for Irit Sheetrit's murder — the former, for being a terrorist group, and the latter, for not defending its citizens after the very first rocket was launched into Israel. Israel must push forth with Operation Cast Lead.

It is the only way to prevent eight more years of endless terror.

Ophira Stramer

Beer Sheva, Israel