(Gatestone Institute) Bassam Tawil - On Sep. 12, Hamas repeated its demand that Israel withdraw completely from Gaza in order to reach a ceasefire-hostage agreement. In other words, Hamas is demanding that Israel lose the war so that the terrorist group can regroup, rearm and prepare for more attacks on Israel. Ending the war now means an Israeli surrender, ensuring that Hamas can continue to control Gaza. Hamas wants to see Israel defeated and humiliated. The terror group seeks to proclaim victory and send a message to Israel's enemies that the Oct. 7 atrocities were worth the high cost that Palestinians in Gaza have paid. Hamas is willing to fight to the last Palestinian and does not care if tens of thousands of its own people lose their lives as a result of the war it began. To understand the real intentions and aims of Hamas, just look at what it is saying in Arabic. Hamas and its allies are saying that the only deal they would accept is one that results in Israel raising a white flag. If Hamas is permitted to win the war, Iran and its other terror proxies will feel more empowered. This will convey to Muslim Jihadis worldwide that Israel and the West are too weak to protect their people and values against Islamist terror organizations. This weakness will lead to more terrorism, not only against Israel, but also against the U.S. and most Western nations.
2024-09-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive