Will Hamas disarm? (CNN) |
Their evidence for their claim is the recent airstrike in Gaza that killed dozens of Palestinians in retaliation for the Hamas attack that killed two IDF soldiers.
Living up to their proven bias, the media gave equal credence to the claims by both sides that it was the other side that violated the cease fire. God forbid they believe Israel over Hamas. The “even-handed” mainstream media will dare not believe the belligerent Netanyahu over the peace-loving Hamas ‘fighters’ who are simply fighting for a cause they believe in. Which is to end Israeli occupation and apartheid. But I digress.
The point here is that both Hamas and Israel said they are still adhering to the cease-fire agreement — even though Hamas has not yet disarmed as the agreement requires. What they have been doing is executing the criminal element among them, which they mostly define as Palestinian collaborators with the Zionist enemy.
So much for their peaceful intentions. The president, for his part, was misled by Hamas to believe that they actually were just restoring law and order. What he didn’t realize was that this meant executing Palestinian ‘rats’.
It appears that Hamas has no real intention of complying with that most vital portion of the cease-fire agreement, and are using the cease fire to reconstitute their ranks — which, ‘sure as shootin’, they are doing right now!
Well, aren’t the naysayers right, then? If they don’t disarm, isn’t that a deal breaker? Of course it is. Does that mean it was a bad deal and a mistake to make that deal in the first place?
Absolutely not. That deal accomplished the impossible: It got all the living hostages returned at once. And for now, the IDF is not in harm’s way in active combat. At least for the short term. These heroes of the Gaza war are out of harm’s way for the moment and can surely use the break.
What about the fact that Hamas is trying to restore itself to its former ‘glory’? What about all the Palestinian prisoners who were released as part of the deal, some of whom were convicted of terrorism and murder? Was that price too steep?
Not in my book. 20 innocent lives were saved. What happens in the future will be dealt with then. Hopefully Israel has finally learned its lessen after October 7th and will never ‘drop the ball’ again!
But to reiterate the question: if Hamas reneges on what I believe to be the most important part of the deal - complete disarmament and no possibility of a role in governing Gaza - isn’t that the worst outcome? Will they not have been the ultimate winner – surviving to do it all over again in the future? I don’t think so. Here’s why:
President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that if Hamas keeps killing people in Gaza, “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”
“If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Trump later clarified that U.S. forces would not be involved in the renewed offensive he had threatened.
Well, if U.S. forces will not be involved (and they shouldn’t be), how will ‘we’ kill them? I’ll give you three guesses.
Never mind. I’ll just spell it out: IDF. They will go right back in and do whatever it takes to eradicate Hamas regardless of how many Palestinian civilians Hamas puts in Israel’s way.
If Hamas has learned anything about Trump, it is that he doesn’t bluff. All they have to do is look at what he did to Iran at Fordow.
The president has repeated those comments several times in a variety of ways. Will the world scream bloody murder (at both Israel and the US)? Of course they will. Many more ‘innocent’ Palestinians will be killed. But as always they will be screaming at the wrong parties.
Besides, it doesn’t make any difference. Once Hamas is out of the picture as any kind of organized fighting force, the cease-fire agreement can be restored and the world that approved this deal in the first time will surely approve it again. Not because they love Israel (they hate Israel despite the platitudes we sometimes hear from their leaders). But because it will be in their own economic interests to do so as well as it will be in the best interests of the Arab states, the U.S., and, not least of all, Israel.
Meanwhile, the vice president is in Israel to make sure Netanyahu does not ‘jump the gun’ and restart the war prematurely. He wants to give peace a chance.
Frankly, so do I. It’s just that I don’t have any confidence in Hamas living up to their part of the bargain. We will have to see what the deadline is for them to lay down their arms. If they do, it’s a win for Israel, the Palestinians, the Arab states, and the free world. If they don’t, it will still be a win — it will just take a bit longer and be a lot bloodier.
These are my thoughts as things stand now.
Trump was the first US President to perform a joint military operation with Israel; he will not hesitate to do it again. Hamas will not survive.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, HM. Trump saw an opening for the return of the hostages and he took it. The rest of his peace deal is questionable at best; to the extent it requires Hamas’s cooperation, it stands zero chance of succeeding as planned. Netanyahu knows this and is ready to crank up the war again if Hamas doesn’t do its assigned part, which it won’t — which it hasn’t even agreed to do. Trump knows this, too. Word is that Trump intends to put pressure on Netanyahu not to overdo it. We’ll see where that goes.
ReplyDeleteGiven your past views on the Abrahamic Accords, Kushner, etc. your POV is hardly unexpected. Fortunately, things will clarify over the next few months. In the interim, if you see crow on sale, you might want to stock-up.
DeleteDid trhe Abraham Accords prevent Oct 7? Any of the countries give aid to Israel? BTW Kushner is wrong about Economics would drive Arabs to want peace with Israel-Israel can't compete with Arab oil money such as Qatar big supporter of Hamas. Why do many of us have 1st degree Israeli relatives
DeleteTrump has already stopped Israel from retaliating. The only reason why deal might stay is the threats that Trump has made to Bibi. Remember Trump more than anything wants ceremonies showing peace-even if shalom vein Shalom. Trump has given future US prez the roadmap of how to act in ordering Israel around. Bibi can't complain for 2 reasons-Trump will take it out on Israel if one does not treat him in the way a North Korean dictator wants to be praised by his citizens and also Bibi by engaging in GOP warfare aainst Dems has burned bridges with Dems left with Trump who put the squeeze on Israel
ReplyDeleteShouldn't be s surprise Trump pressure on Bibi Hamas would ignore him, why Trump picks fight with Ukraine Putin would have laughed at Trump.
ReplyDeletemycroft, responses to my post like yours from people like you were so predictable that I actually predicted them within the text. Thanks for proving my point. I am not going to bother responding to them because the post itself does that.
DeleteI'm no less predictable than your comments and your certainty of Trump being and will be good for Israel. Almost everyone commenting here is predictable. On Trump you have the believers and maybe those who have been aware of him for decades-.
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