Opinion | Israel’s Only Real Option Was to Invade Gaza

I was surprised to read Peggy Noonan’s blatant contradictions in “A Look Back at ’23 and Me” (Declarations, Dec. 30). She writes that she reacted to Oct. 7 “simply as a mother” and yet she advises Israel to “wait, build up your strength.” But if her daughter were taken hostage, is this the advice she would give? Hamas has stated repeatedly that they will repeat Oct. 7 and yet she writes that Israel should not “get sucked into Gaza.”

And while Israel is building up strength, won’t Hamas surely be building up strength for an even more horrific slaughter in the future?