How Hamas Can Be Destroyed With Military Force
Peloni: Victory was always achievable, but the positioning of the Biden administration in tight coordination with its allies among the IDF and Israeli political spectrum made this potential quite impossible. It is time for Israel to revisit this conflict, and demonstrate in quick order its ability to eliminate Hamas’ control over Gaza, and then advance the Trump proposal of letting the Gazans seek their futures in Egypt and Jordan. But as Trump recently noted, “somebody’s going to have to get a lot rougher than they’re getting.” The time to do so is now.
By chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point; served for 25 years as an infantry soldier and two tours in Iraq
March 7, 2025
Recent events have reignited the debate over whether Hamas can be defeated militarily. Following President Donald Trump‘s meeting with freed Israeli hostages in the Oval Office, he warned Hamas to release all captives or face severe consequences.
He also promised to send Israel “everything it needs to finish the job.” This pledge likely includes military supplies that were previously withheld under the Biden administration—such as large-diameter bombs and bulldozer parts—items Trump promptly released after the elections. The implicit message is clear: renewed military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas are on the table.

















