The Allies did not negotiate a surrender with Japan — they simply announced the terms. A model for Israel.
Upside down.
“Israel is endangering the hostages by invading Gaza City.”
Right side up.
Hamas is endangering the hostages in Gaza. Hamas kidnapped them — that is inherent endangerment. Hamas starves them. Hamas executes some of them. Besides these cruelties, Hamas coerces hostages to watch other hostages go free, and coerces hostages to perform on videos which are designed to impose pain on their families and on good people everywhere.
Upside down.
“Israel’s demands — Hamas end the war, renounce violence and governance, and release all hostages — prolong the war in Gaza.”
Right side up.
Memory check. Hamas sees itself as destroying Israel — that is what Hamas planned before Oct. 7, that it what it saw itself doing on Oct. 7, and that is what it has seen itself as doing ever since. That is what prolongs the war. For Hamas, the massive death of Palestinians is a “necessary sacrifice.”
Upside down.
“Hostages’ lives take precedence over all else.”
Right side up.
Lives? Hostages include dead bodies. To lump them together with the living hostages is to glide over how the dead hostages died. Not from natural causes. They were starved by Hamas, executed by Hamas, or killed as Israel attempted to extricate them from the evil of Hamas (mostly, the first two).
Upside down.
“Hamas will never surrender, so Israel must resign itself to releasing all convicted Palestinian criminals, even murderers, in exchange for the remaining hostages; and must resign itself to leaving Hamas in power.”
Right side up.
Hamas need not surrender in order “to surrender.” Wars fight weaponry and soldiers; wars also fight “face.” “Saving face” can be a helpful element in ending a war, depending on the culture. “Saving face” enabled the Japanese emperor to end WW II. “Saving face” is a critical element in the culture of Hamas.
A bit of history is instructive.
The US demanded an “unconditional surrender” by Japan in the “Potsdam Declaration” on July 26, 1945. It was issued as an “ultimatum,” to be accepted by Japan without delay. “The alternative for Japan,” said the declaration, “is prompt and utter destruction.” Japan delayed. Roughly two weeks later, on Aug 6, 1945, the US dropped the atom bomb on Japan. Only after a second atom bomb was dropped three days later did Japan accept the terms of unconditional surrender — but not the concept.
Japan agreed to end the war and it agreed to the terms set form in the Potsdam Declaration. But in announcing Japan’s acceptance of these terms, Japan’s emperor did not use the word “surrender,” let alone “unconditional surrender, according to Prof. Mark Gallicchio, quoted in Hamodia. The emperor saved face, even though the unconditional terms of the Potsdam Declaration were unmodified.
It is pertinent to look at that document. But first, note this: The Allies did not deliver the Potsdam Declaration through any diplomatic channel. The Allies simply announced it. The Allies did not negotiate terms for Japan ending the war.
For those who say that Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar undermined negotiations with Hamas, please note: Israel has done what the US did to end WW II: It simply announced its terms, coupled with a dire threat if they were not accepted.
This is hardly the only item to be pondered about the Potsdam Declaration and its pertinence to Israel’s war against Hamas. For those who deem Israel’s demands of Hamas unreasonable, it is worth revisiting the Allies’ harsh terms imposed on Japan. They resonate eerily. They reflect what a righteous victor must impose on an evil enemy — as Japan was, and as Hamas is.
The reader may easily substitute “Hamas” for “Japan” in reviewing the conditions that US and its allies imposed to end the war that the Axis designed to destroy the US, Europe, Southeast Asia and China.
The Potsdam Declaration required of Japan:
• The elimination “for all time of the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan . . .”
• The occupation of “points in Japanese territory to be designed by the Allied.”
• “The Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives.”
• “We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners.”
• “Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those which would enable her to rearm for war.”
“The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established, in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people, a peacefully inclined and responsible government.”
The Allied occupation began Sept. 2, 1945 and last until April 28, 1952 — more than six years. And that was only after the agreed upon end of the war.
The destruction of Hamas and the demand for unconditional surrender do not differ from the military and diplomatic policy of the US and its Allies in their own worst war.
© 2025
