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Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22032/hamas-exploiting-trump-plan
How Hamas Is Exploiting the Trump Plan to Maintain Control of Gaza
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect in Gaza, Hamas has been taking advantage of the lull to entrench itself by rearming, regrouping, recruiting new fighters, and tightening its grip on areas under its control. For Hamas, President Trump's peace plan is a temporary ceasefire, to ensure that the terror group expands its political and military control over Gaza. This is precisely what Hamas has done for the past two decades. After each round of fighting with Israel ended in a ceasefire, the terror group would exploit the period of calm to restock and rebuild its military capabilities, eventually enabling it to launch its Oct. 7 attack on Israeli communities. We are witnessing a calculated delay that aims to buy time and exhaust the U.S. administration until Trump abandons the numerous ultimatums he has issued to the terror group. Hamas's foot-dragging aims to allow it to reassert control over Gaza. Hamas's actions and media interviews given by its officials show that the terror group has no intention of disarming or relinquishing security control. It is time for the Trump administration and the international community to realize that what we are currently witnessing is an attempt to rebrand and reproduce Hamas to ensure its continued control of Gaza. Hamas should not only be removed from power, but from the entire political, economic, social and military arena. The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist, is a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.