Meanwhile, Hamas has decisions to make
Hamas is no longer a cohesive organization with a clear chain of command and a formidable armed wing. It lacks an agreed-upon policy for the near future and encounters major difficulties in trying to chart a new course. Rival groups around Khaled Mash’al and Khalil al-Hayeh squabble fiercely among themselves, seeking to fill the vacuum created by the demise of well-entrenched leaders. The organization is at a crossroads.
The article goes on to explain that the split is between those who think October 7 and especially its aftermath has been a disaster, and those who don’t. Note that no one seems to think it was wrong on moral grounds; the disagreements are merely tactical.
More:
These ongoing controversies among Hamas leaders, primarily those residing in Qatar, affect their decision-making in the current negotiations over a ceasefire and release of the remaining Israeli hostages (in exchange for Palestinian prisoners convicted of acts of terrorism). The split between “pragmatists,” who are prepared to accept a phased process of IDF withdrawal, and “radicals,” who insist on the IDF’s complete withdrawal, has produced frequent obstacles in the bargaining and caused shifts in Hamas positions and tactics.
The more moderate wing (although their moderation is relative) believes in cutting losses, cooperating somewhat, and living to fight another day when the time is right. The more radical wing believes it can leverage the remaining hostages into victory:
[The latter group argues] that playing the “hostages card” smartly will allow Hamas to achieve the full withdrawal of the IDF and ultimately to maintain its exclusive control over Gaza. They believe that Qatar, Turkey and many non-governmental donors will devise ways to provide significant aid to them, with Iran doing its best to help. Furthermore, they say that the Palestinian Authority is very fragile and there is no benefit in accommodating it.
Is this true? It’s probably close to it; it makes intuitive sense. Nothing indicates any basic change in the goals, however: to achieve power and to destroy Israel.
Those in believe in hudna and those who dont (a pause would be just that,)
Let it be said that the enemy gets a say in the outcome of war. Here, contextually, Hamas’ enemy is the State of Israel (where not actually others standing by).
Let the State of Israel say: “No. Hamas will not survive this war in the least. Hamas will be undone entirely, should Hamas not surrender without condition immediately, returning now all living and dead hostages to us. Then, thereupon, we and we alone will decide what is to be left of Hamas, and how those matters will be determined.”
Such is my view.
Those in believe in hudna and those who dont (a pause would be just that,)
Yup.
The article reminds us that Hamas’s goal for the Oct 3 attack was to spearhead an attack on Israel that would result in Israel’s destruction. We should be grateful that in response to Oct 3, Hezbollah and Iran didn’t immediately commence a full-fledged attack on Israel. Instead, Israel was able to piecemeal diminish their power.
As the October attack was intended as the beginning of a war that would result in Israel’s destruction, Israel’s response was quite proportionate. It is fair to say that Hamas is defeated—or better said, close to defeat. In the process of the IDF fighting Hamas troops who embedded themselves among “civilians” and civilian infrastructure—such as hospitals—Gaza got turned to rubble.
Recall what happened to Germany and Japan in the 1930s. They initiated conflicts, and in the process saw much of their cities turned to rubble. The rulers of Japan and Germany who initiated the conflicts were not permitted to return to power. The victors occupied both Germany and Japan after their defeat.
Which suggests to me 1) Israel’s dismantling of Hamas should continue apace and 2) the IDF should not withdraw from Gaza. At the least, the IDF should occupy the border between Gaza and Egypt, to prevent any rearming of Gaza.
Destroying Hamas, eviscerating Hezbollah and gelding Iran will perhaps bring a decade or two of respite from major attacks. It is a certainty however that as long as the world refuses to identify Islam itself as the source of jihad, Islam will recover and renew its jihad against the world. Evidenced by the 64,678 Islamist terrorist attacks since 9/11 that have murdered 243,124 people.
“2001-2012: 8,265 attacks and 38,187 deaths.
• 2013-April 2024: 56,413 attacks and 204,937 deaths.”
https://www.fondapol.org/en/study/islamist-terrorist-attacks-in-the-world-1979-2024/
How do these same games still work the same cretinous lies that border on blood libel
I noted from my previous thread how the west including israel was slow to catch on with the threat from yassin in part because he was arafats foil certainly in gaza
This second war has gone nearly half as long as the first intifada in this certainly perhaps the 4th overall
1. Glad to see this blog has clear-eyed folks who understand that this is just a “hudna” and that “moderate” is a relative, strategic term in relation to Muslims.
2. Sad to report that the resolute will of the Israeli people is being stymied and siphoned off by Oslo-era Deep Staters in our gubmint and military. Bibi wanted stability during war, so he did not clear out the pro-Oslo echelons in the military.
Some of these people are just blinded by years of belief in Oslo – but a hard core of Lefties have made it clear that they will damage Israel just to prevent Bibi from chalking up a win.
So Israeli reservists are fighting with their officers, who hand down namby-pamby directives that prevent our forces from taking and holding territory in Gaza, and continue to cede control of aid entering the area.
And the same vocal arguments have been leaked from the cabinet, where patriotic MPs are arguing with peacenik generals unwilling to push the button and actually win.
@ BenDavid – I’m beginning to understand some of the unrecorded activities behind the ancient defeats of Israel by the Babylonians and Romans.
Not my trade, but I’m not understanding the point of ‘negotiations’ in this situation. Why not liquidate what’s left of Hamas and blow up the tunnels?
As the October attack was intended as the beginning of a war that would result in Israel’s destruction,
==
And starting today, I’m beginning my campaign to be installed as Janeane Garofalo’s sidepiece. Don’t wish me luck. My victory is assured.
To the extent Hamas is not organized, what good will its agreements do?
Current leaders agree; non-affiliates keep up the terror.
But, due to the agreement, the IDF is restricted in its activities.
Hamas will never, ever cease trying to destroy Israel and murder all the Jews, regardless of any “agreement” made with Israel.
Israel needs to get on with it, annihilate what remains of Hamas, and find and kill all its leaders regardless of where they live (Qatar, Iran, UK, etc).
If need be, Israel should make a deal with Hamas to release all remaining hostages, and once the hostages are safe, Israel should immediately launch a surprise attack on Hamas and kill them all.
Yea, if the latter, the world will condemn Israel, but hey, what else is new?
Qatar is the home for several BILLIONAIRE Hamas leaders and yet the USA has a military air base there. So, on the one hand, the USA is sort of protecting Qatar and Qatar is protecting top Hamas leadership.
I wonder which foreign policy genius in our govt devised this policy.
well richard clarke, probably designed the transfer to doha, and his ghost endures,
the al Thanis who are distant cousins to the Sauds crave the leadership of the Salafi, one recalls how the blockade that was instituted in 2017, was cancelled,
then there was the Khashoggi panjandrum the following year, the Sauds went a little Thomas More on him, (a courtier that exceeded his skis)
the negotiations only helped rebuild the ranks of the Hamas cadres like their special commandoes, (just a bunch of butchers)
after the Wrath of God operation, where they mostly wrapped up many of the Black September leadership but not all, many hid in Eastern Europe, some like
Abu Mazen, the old KGB hireling, became respectable, in the Oslo era,
The problems don’t end until all of Hamas is either killed or jailed (though they get released, so not a good outcome). Israel should be unrelenting in its quest to eliminate the group. Will this solve all the problems? No. Some other group will arise, Iran and Qatar will continue to fund them, and the wars will start anew. It is sad. Would it help to send all of Palestine to the Congo? Couldn’t hurt, except the Congolese.
Israel should follow the N Viet model of re-education camps, as well as occupation and control. And create, under martial law not Gazan votes, a Prosperous and Human Rights supporting small city state.
Drafting Arab Muslim Israelis for Gaza police services would likely reduce crime.
The main Gaza groups opposed to Hamas were criminal clan gangs. Israel will probably accept some of them becoming leaders, but there will likely then be lots of criminal scandals.
Islam directs its adherents to kill Jews and subjugate unbelievers.
One tenth of one percent of the world’s Muslims amounts to 1,800,000. That many good for “direct action”, plus a couple of more tenths for close support, plus however many US college students.
Going to be a problem for a long time.
Related…in a topsy-turvy sort of way…
London Mayor pushes for immediate UK recognition of Palestine;
“Mayor Sadiq Khan says UK must act urgently to support Palestinian statehood amid worsening conditions in Gaza.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/412134
I guess he’ll have to put London’s problems on hold in the meantime…
+ Bonus—bon appetit!
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/412132