LOS ANGELES.–Hamas plays with fire now that 78-year-old President Donald Trump is in power, demanding that Hamas release the remaining hostages before Saturday, Feb. 15 at noon GMT. Hamas has plenty complaints now that its infrastructure is confined to military tunnels under the Gaza Strip. Hamas senior leadership has been killed over the last 16 months of war with Israel but because Israel agreed to a ceasefire to get its hostages back, Hamas leadership traveled to Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to declare victory over Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu isn’t concerned about the Ayatollah’s insults, only getting the remain hostages back from the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre that left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Netanyahu has served notice to Hamas that if the agreed to hostages are not returned by noon Oct. 15, the ceasefire would end.
Hamas defied Trump’s warning given months ago about returning Israeli hostages or that “all hell would break out.” Hamas leaders celebrated with Ayatollah victory over the Zionist state, with Khamenei promising Hamas everything needed in cash-and-weapons to continue their war against the Zionist entity. So, when it comes to any dealing with Hamas, what doesn’t the European Union know about allowing Hamas to continue to rule the Gaza Strip? How is any reconstruction supposed to take place in Gaza when Hamas has looted the Gaza Strip for the last 20 years? No one can trust Hamas with one penny of reconstruction funds knowing it will wind up in Hamas pockets. So, if the EU or Arab States, including Egypt and Qatar, are serious about helping besieged Palestinians, they know they must work with Trump to get rid of Hamas. Yet not one country has stepped up to end Hamas rule.
When it comes to the ceasefire, the U.S. and Israel haven’t specified how many more hostages they want released on Feb. 15. Hamas was due to release three more hostages out of the 75 kept in captivity, at least 35, already dead. Trump and Netanyahu want all the hostages released but that was not part of the ceasefire deal. “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon,–the ceasefire will end and the IDF [military] will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Netanyahu said, still not saying how many hostages must be released by noon Saturday. Hamas speaks for the Ayatollah when it says that the ceasefire must respected, rebuffing President Donald Trump. “Trump must remember there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the [Israeli] prisoners,” said Hamas official Abu Zuhri.
Trump has unfinished business with the Ayatollah who’s government threatens Trump with assassination. Meeting in Tehran with a small Hamas delegation, the Ayatollah declared victory over the United States and Israel, knowing that Israel has leveled the Gaza Strip, all because of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas massacre. Trump is ready to let Netanyahu finish the job in Gaza, even though Israelis want him to honor the ceasefire deal to get out what’s left of the Israeli hostages, no more than 41 still alive out of 75 not yet released. Trump’s plan to take over Gaza, relocate Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt, has been met with a backlash by Arab states, complaining it would violate the Geneva Convention. Trump’s point is that Hamas cannot be trusted with any Gaza reconstruction funds, knowing their history of looting the coffers to enrich former Hamas officials now worth billions.
Hamas continues to walk on thin ice when it comes to pushing Trump too far at a time when the Ayatollah continues to support war against the U.S. and Israel. So, when Trump talks of “all hell breaking out,” he’s talking about giving Netanyahu the green light to do whatever he wants with Hamas. Trump wants Netanyahu to take out Hamas because they’re backed by the Ayatollh who seeks his assassination. EU and Arab states don’t get the change from the Biden to the Trump administration. Trump wants no part of negotiating with terrorists to determine U.S. or Israeli national security. Meeting with 63-year-old Jordan’s King Adullah today at the White House, Trump will find out that Jordan can’t deal with any more Palestinians refugees. Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians hasn’t been met with open arms. All Arab states must decide what to do with Hamas.
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.
