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Source: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/gaza-phase-two-peace-plan-white-house-israel-donald-trump-80677aea
Gaza's "Phase Two" Peace Trusts Hamas
(Wall Street Journal) Editorial - "We've talked to a number of Hamas people, and we're hearing throughout the Arab world that people don't want to be at war anymore," a senior U.S. official told reporters on Wednesday. This is a case of what Israelis call the "Oct. 6 mind-set" - the pattern of thought common before the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7 exposed it as dangerous naivete. If Hamas simply wanted "a better economic future for their families," it wouldn't have sent death squads to slaughter 1,200 Israeli men, women and children. The U.S. officials spoke only of taking Hamas's "heavy weaponry," leaving out what would happen to the AK-47s on which Hamas's power and ability to murder dissenting Gazans rests. The U.S. is engaging and coordinating with Hamas on all matters of Gaza's current and future governance, which legitimizes the terrorists. What happened to the point in Mr. Trump's plan that said "Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form"? Perhaps Hamas will hand over some weapons, but the Israelis expect to have to do the job themselves once U.S. officials realize no one else will. The smart move would be for the Board of Peace to impose a deadline on Hamas to disarm and let Jerusalem enforce it.