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Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-846605
Israel Will No Longer Allow Hamas to Use Ceasefires to Regroup and Rearm
(Jerusalem Post) Editorial - On Monday night, the IDF launched a new wave of airstrikes targeting Hamas positions across Gaza in response to Hamas's refusal to release the hostages still held in Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz has made it clear that the IDF will continue its operations until "Hamas understands that the rules of the game have changed." This reflects a shift in Israel's strategic approach - no longer allowing Hamas to use ceasefires as a means to regroup and rearm. For weeks, Hamas stalled negotiations in Doha, rejecting opportunities to release hostages and de-escalate the conflict, while simultaneously pretending to engage in good-faith discussions. Hamas consistently seeks ceasefires it never intends to honor while using the lull to strengthen its forces. Israel understands the cost of waiting; every delay emboldens Hamas and prolongs the suffering of the hostages it continues to hold. Israel has no obligation to allow Hamas to dictate the battlefield. The era in which Hamas could launch attacks, retreat under the cover of a ceasefire, and then reemerge stronger must come to an end. Israel's objective is to ensure that Hamas can no longer function as an organized terrorist entity. This requires sustained military pressure, strategic strikes, and a refusal to engage in futile negotiations that only serve to prolong Hamas's grip on power.