LOS ANGELES (OC).–Since the Gaza War ceasefire was signed Monday, Oct. 13, Hamas has sent roving bands of terrorists into Gaza City streets, rounding up citizens, charging them with treason, and killing them execution style in the public square. Hamas bound an force to kneel seven civilians who were shot in the back of the head publicly, harking back to the Afghan Taliban known at one time for public beheadings and mutilations. Now it’s Hamas’s turn to show its barbarism in the public square for all to see. U.S. military Mideast command called on Hamas to cease-and-desist from public spectacles, murdering people in public. U.S. military said Hamas had actually killed 30 members of what it called a “gang,” making no excuses that they were Israeli spies or traitors. U.S. Mideast commander Bard Cooper asked Hamas to disarm or face military consequences for failing to stop its killing spree.
Hamas has been a menace to the Gaza Strip since 2007 when they seized the territory from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority in a bloodless coup. Hamas was a terror organization formed in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassis with one purpose: Destroying Israel. Hamas served as the military wing of Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO] designed, like Hamas, to destroy the Jewish State. “We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” said Cooper head of U.S. military CENTCOM. Cooper demanded that the terrorist groups stand down and disarm at the earliest possible time. “We have conveyed our concerns to the mediators who agreed to work with us to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians,” Cooper said, without any guarantees of reigning in Hamas.
Arab States and the European Union haven’t been forceful enough in demanding that Hamas accept an exile deal and leave the Gaza Strip. Hamas has gotten mixed signals from the international community since the war started with Israel. Only recently has the Arab States and EU been clear that Hamas has no place in a news Gaza government responsible for managing what amounts to billions in donor cash to handle the lengthy rebuild of the Gaza Strip. President Trump signed a ceasefire agreement Oct. 13 in signing ceremony in Sharm El-Sheikh, Sina Peninsula, hailing the peace deal as a new beginning. But with Hamas terrorists making a mockery of all the hard work by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, it certainly warrants all Arab states to formally condemn Hamas. Trump told the Israeli Knesset [parliament] the same day that a new era of peace was no in place.
Trump wants to supervise the rebuilding of Gaza, a terror ravaged by over two years of war. Whether the new legal authority in Gaza acceptsTrump’s rebuilding efforts or not, it will take billions of dollars to rebuild the territory. Hamas neglected Gaza while it looted the treasury for years making billionaires out of its retired leaders, spending most its rebuilding funds building military tunnels for eventual war with Israel. Once a new legal authority is formed in Gaza the international community promises to supply a multilateral force to protect the new Gaza government from falling to past terrorist groups especially Hamas Once the new Gaza government has been seated, there’s no reason for Hamas to continue harassing Palestinians in Gaza. Trump peace plan has many features but the most important on has Hamas disarming and leaving Gaza.
Trump plans to send some 200 CENTOM troops to Gaza as a stabilization force once the new demilitarized Palestinian government takes over the territory. But first things first, Hamas must leave the territory immediately to allow the rebuild to get underway. After looting Gaza for nearly 20 years, no one penny can be put into Hamas hands. Several Arab and EU countries have offered a multinational security force to keep Hamas and other terror groups from undermining the new Gaza government. Whatever role CENTCOM plays in a post-war security force, Arab States must step up to assure that 2.2 million Gaza residents get the electricity and running water and other amenities they deserve. Hamas may never be allowed to plunder the coffers or Gaza’s rebuilding funds.
Trump restored a lot of faith in America’s ability to leade in peacekeeping efforts, showing that Gaza was not an impossible situation. While it’s necessary to keep Hamas out of the picture, it’s also necessary for the reconstruction to start as soon as possible. Trump’s vision of Gaza as a Mediterranean resort are may not fly with the new government but it’s clear the time for prosperity in Gaza is long overdue. Stabilizing the seaside enclave is necessary with U.S. troops to assure that nothing disrupts the rebuilding process. Trump’s vision for Gaza intrigues many people, realizing the potential for Mediterranean seaside property. Ending the war was long overdue, delayed by Hamas because they were clinging to power. Now that Hamas is forced to get out of Gaza, Trump vision of a new ear for peace with Israel and the Arab State can be realized.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically netural commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
