It is almost impossible to mention the Nazi “final solution” among Jews. The Nazis did not start with the idea of killing all the Jews during the earlier propaganda of the 1930’s. However, among Hitler’s core leadership, the plan was formulated in 1941.
The difference with Jihad-Hamas-Hizballah-ISIS is that the idea of total destruction of the Jews is mentioned in their founding vision statements, is global in scope, and includes wiping out Jews, Israel, Christians and America as well. So, it is much worse in that sense.
Here I want to use the word “solution” in just the opposite sense: how the problem of Nazism was developed, then defeated. It can provide a model for how to solve Hamas-Nazism in Gaza today. This is a very simplistic overview, just touching on a few relevant and parallel points.
1. Violent Core: Hitler’s group started with radical ideology, racial pride, demagogic hatred against non-Aryans, demonizing Jews, and blaming them for Germany’s economic and social problems. It attracted people to violence as a way to heal wounded national pride after the defeat of WWI.
2. Repeated Propaganda: While they were considered as a fringe group, not taken seriously at first, they adopted the strategy of repeating lies over and over again until they became believable. After years of indoctrination, a larger minority grew to support them.
3. Elected Government: In 1932, the Nazis had enough votes to win a plurality (not even a majority) after the Reichstag was dissolved. This gave them access to all the bureaucratic institutions, banks, militia, and legislature. (In 2007, Israel voluntarily forcibly evacuated all the 8,000 Jews living in Gaza. Then, after the Gazan elections, Hamas immediately murdered the PLO leadership, thus giving Hamas control of Gaza.)
4. Conquest and Genocide: In 1939, the Nazis initiated wars to conquer Europe, kill Jews, and oppress minorities. This is similar to militant Muslims starting wars over and over again against Israel and throughout the Middle East. Israel did not start the current war, did not want it, and was even surprised by its viciousness.
5. Failed Pacification: For years, diplomats in Europe tried to persuade Hitler to agree to cease fires and peace agreements. In hindsight, that strategy was absurdly illogical, since the Nazis were murderous militants from their formation. The pacification illusion resulted in many more deaths in the long run. Appeasement of radical Jihadists is equally absurd.
6. Righteous War: Finally, the allied forces realized they had to fight back. The battles were long and bloody, but totally necessary on moral grounds. Once the allied forces with the U.S. made a clear decision, victory was assured. Unconditional surrender was demanded.
7. Germany Divided: After the war, Germany was divided in two, and multi-national oversight was established. This division lasted over 40 years until the re-unification in 1989. Division and oversight of Gaza is a possible arrangement at the end of this war.
8. Nazism Outlawed: All connections with Nazism were made illegal. This included using any symbols, spreading similar ideology, and establishing parallel organizations. Similarly, Islamic Jihadism in all of its metastasized forms must be outlawed with clear enforcement measures.
9. Germany Rebuilt: With the destruction of Nazism, the nation was freed to rebuild its economy and institutions. The source of the problem had been rooted out. When radical Jihadism is destroyed, the people can begin to rebuild their economy and social institutions. This could be a true “liberation” for Palestinians as well.
10. Modern Prosperity: Today Germany is one of the most prosperous nations in the world, they have functioning democracy institutions, and they are friends with the State of Israel. This kind of success and peaceful co-existence could happen if Hamas-ISIS-Jihadism is defeated.
Let’s pray for long-term solutions to this current conflict. Ultimately the only solution will come in the Messianic kingdom of peace, at the return of Yeshua, at the end of the apocalyptic wars of Gog-Magog and Armageddon (Isaiah 2, Ezekiel 38-48, Zechariah 14, Revelation 19-20).
There is a time of peace and a time of war (Ecclesiastes 3). This is a time of war. Peace comes only when war is waged against evil, and the evil defeated.
