LOS ANGELES (OC).–Refusing to turn the remaining dead-or-alive Israeli hostages, Gaza’s Hamas terrorists refuse to get out of the decimated enclave. Hamas brought war to the dilapidated region when they raped, tortured and massacred 1,200 Israelis Oct. 7, 2023, taking another 251 hostages. Hamas clings to power in Gaza, hoping to outlast Israel and the global community who announced today they want the war ended. Most of global community point fingers at Israel when they know Hamas cannot stay in the Gaza Strip to start the area’s reconstruction. Hamas spent some 20 years plundering the Gaza Strip with all its oil-rich Gulf State donor cash, earning many Hamas leaders millions and billions at the expense of the impoverished population. No one thinks in an Arab State or Europe that Hamas can stay in Gaza Strip. But what nation has stepped up to tell Hamas to get out?
Israel is blamed for the war, citing unverified Hamas stats about casualty rates in Gaza. No one can trust anything from Hamas, knowing that they have one mission to destroy Israel in literally and in world opinion. Arab States and the EU need to be more forceful in getting Hamas out of Gaza, knowing they cannot continue to rule the 2.3 million territory. Hamas’s Minstry of Health claims that over 55,000 civilians, mostly women and children, have been slaughtered by Israel in their nearly two year war in Gaza. No one can verify Hamas claims, something disputed by Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] but generally accepted by global news organizations. Special U.S. envoy for hostages release Adam Boehler said if the hostages are not released soon, the IDF could take more “kinetic” action an action for more aggressive military force if that’s possible.
Boehler told CNN’s Jake Tapper that “a new sense of ability to get something done,” prevails in the IDF said Boehler, after Israel’s highly successful bombing campaign in Iran. Once feared by all Mideast countries, Israel exposed Iran in a 12-day war as a paper tiger, lacking the military capabilities to defend itself against a relentless Israeli aerial assault. Boehler thinks Trump special Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is close to deal with Hamas but those have fallen apart in the past. “Hamas is very hard-headed,” Boehler said about deal with Hamas in the past. They take their remaining dead-or-alive hostages as their only bargaining chips, so they don’t like making concessions to Israel. Hamas still considers its mission to destroy Israel, so they haven’t given up. “They have been offered many things that they should take, and it is time for Hamas to release the hostages,” Boehler said.
Reports today of Hamas assaulting three Palestinian journalists should surprise no one. A journalist for Qatari-based broadcaster Al Jazeera and a correspondent for the Istanbul-based Andalou news agency reported in the attacks West Bank-based news syndicate blamed Hamas security personnel for the attacks, not having confirmation other than injured journalists. When it comes to conditions covering the Gaza Strip, they could not be more dangerous with the IDF engaged in various military operations in various spots against Hamas. No journalist or aid worker is secure working the Gaza beat knowing it’s an active war zone. If Boehler’s correct, Netanyahu could escalate attacks on parts of Gaza not yet covered. IDF have entered for the first time Hamas bastion Deir al-Balah, where Hamas military are apparently hole up. If Hamas wants to spare its militants, they’ll strike a deal.
Whether admitted to or not by Hamas, it’s all over for them in Gaza, with the group stubbornly hanging on to the remaining 10 live hostages and 18 corpses. Having lost most of its leadership in exile and in Gaza, Hamas has little left other than an idea that drives their organization. No one knows whether Hamas will accept the last offer made by Witkoff to end the conflict, something the international community wants. Hamas views the Gaza population as martyrs in the cause of destroying Israel. Hamas can’t explain what happed to the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre that was supposed to be the beginning of liberating Arab lands in Israel. Once the massacre took place, it didn’t take long for the IDF to drive Hamas terrorists from Israel, turning Gaza into a rock pile. Hamas cannot accomplish its past glory in Gaza looting the Palestinian enclave for the last 20 years.
Hamas has nothing left to lose in Gaza but continuing fighting what they call the Zionist enemy or occupiers of Arab land. Israel isn’t the same place their ancestors left, now a modern, technologically advanced European-style democracy, with Palestinians participating in the government. Palestinians living in the West Bank want peace, not war with Israel. West Bank leader Mahmoud Abbas, 86, has learned to get along with Israel, whether he agrees with Israel’s politics or not. When Hamas leaves the Gaza Strip, the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority expects to set up a new government in Gaza. Once the donor cash starts to role in, they’ll need a lot of supervision to prevent the kind of corruption seen with Hamas. Gaza’s 2.3 million residents deserve a new government, responsive to their needs, not the kind of corruption witnessed by Hamas rule.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
