It is not surprising that over even short periods of time there might be fluctuations in the political climate internationally. That is only to be expected.
But today, because we are living in turbulent times, the shifts are sometimes sudden. Thus am I moved to write again, briefly, to document a deviation in the position of the US – as I had shared it in my last post – and to follow through on other aspects of the story.
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Yesterday I wrote about the fact that US envoy Steve Witkoff was going to be meeting with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, to “keep open the lines of communication.” I identified this as a desire by the Trump administration to raise the status of the terrorist Hamas to that of a political partner.
But apparently Witkoff cancelled that meeting. According to Israel Hayom today (Thursday), “Washington is furious with the terror organization over its attempt to rally Arab support against the American proposal in a United Nations Security Council vote, effectively throwing a wrench into President Trump’s efforts to advance to the next stage of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.”
I had reported that Witkoff was going to be discussing with al-Hayya the “standoff” regarding the 200 terrorists on the Israeli side of the yellow line; he was promoting amnesty for them, which meant surrender of weapons in return for safe passage out. According to the Times of Israel today, Witkoff was interested in bringing this same amnesty model to all 20,000 of the Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
According to Witkoff, Hamas had already agreed to this in principle but then rejected it when it issued a statement condemning the UN Security Council resolution establishing an International Stabilization Force to help secure postwar Gaza.
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It is probably too much to hope for: That it should dawn on Trump and Witkoff that offering perks and promoting “face-to-face dialogue” will not moderate Hamas, which intends to remain standing in Gaza and has no intention of surrendering its weapons. If that day ever dawns, it would be appropriate for them to acknowledge that the 20-point plan is simply fantasy. And a dangerous one at that. But see below for more on this.
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“According to [IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav] Shoshani, the IDF has confronted hundreds of Hamas violations of the ceasefire since the agreement went into effect.
“Within the first 10 days of the ceasefire, Palestinian terror operatives in Rafah killed two IDF soldiers, prompting Israel to accuse Hamas of violating the truce and to launch retaliatory strikes on terror targets. Ten days later, an IDF reservist was killed in a similar attack in the Rafah area, triggering another round of Israeli airstrikes.
“The military has reported multiple cases in which it killed terror operatives who crossed over the line and endangered troops…
“Shoshani said that numerous crossings of the line and attacks have persisted.
“Even in areas the IDF previously cleared, new threats have emerged, Shoshani explained, saying that troops had recently found ‘newly placed weaponry’ in buildings between the post and the Yellow Line. A few weeks ago, soldiers uncovered ‘different types of weapons… mortars, explosives’ in one such structure…” (emphasis added)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/holding-down-gazas-yellow-line-idf-says-hamas-tests-us-daily/
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But there is more going on than Hamas breaking the “ceasefire”:
“A Sunday report by the Kan public broadcaster indicated that Hamas has begun amassing advanced weapons and stockpiling them abroad in the hopes of smuggling them into Gaza in the future, amid reports that the US may relinquish its demand that the terror group disarm.”
Will this be the way Trump will handle matters? Instead of recognizing that it is futile to expect Hamas to conform to the stipulations of his plan, will he simple cancel the stipulations?
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Yesterday (Wednesday) the Mossad revealed the existence of a network of Hamas terror-affiliated infrastructure across Europe. This information came as the result of a prolonged investigation it had conducted with European intelligence and law enforcement to thwart planned attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets.
“According to the Mossad, coordinated raids in Austria and Germany resulted in arrests and the seizure of weapons and explosives intended for use ‘on command.’”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-874507
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This is frightening information. It means that not only will Hamas not disarm, it will not be contained within borders. There had been talk, which I dismissed as not viable when I wrote about it, that Gaza might be divided, with Hamas in one area and the IDF and international forces in the other. But what is readily apparent is that Hamas would continually attack on the side where the IDF was situated.
And now we can extend this: the goal of Hamas is not just the destruction of Israel but attacking Jews wherever it is possible.
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Shalom Arbel, formerly a senior member of the Shin Bet, says that the current situation is part of a calculated long-term survival and recovery strategy by Hamas.
“The very fact that Hamas survived as a terror regime and armed entity in Gaza is seen by it as ‘a victory.’” They now have patience as they build their strength and look to tomorrow and the day after. Their status is already improved – in part because of the willingness of the Trump administration to meet directly with them.
https://www.jns.org/hamas-views-its-survival-as-a-victory/
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Hamas MUST be taken down.
Recently, Minister Avi Dichter, former head of the Shin Bet, said that weapons are the “raison d’être” of Hamas. “…without weapons, there is no Hamas.”
He anticipates that Israel will have to disarm Hamas militarily. “In this region, what doesn’t work with force works with extra force.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-872856
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But what I see is that the longer it takes before we move in to do it, the more difficult it will be for our fighting forces – although we will succeed.
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My friends, it is important to share this information about Hamas. Many people have no comprehension of the dimensions of the danger they pose: they do not understand the jihadi virulence or unwavering determination.
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Please, pray for all of Am Yisrael: for the wisdom and courage of our leaders, the healing of the returned hostages, return of all deceased hostages, and our final victory over Hamas.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
