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Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22363/begging-hamas-to-disarm
Begging Hamas to Disarm - The Misguided Approach of Trump's "Board of Peace"
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - President Trump's "Board of Peace" reportedly presented Hamas with a written proposal on how it could lay down its weapons, at meetings in Cairo over the past week attended by Nikolay Mladenov, the "Board of Peace" envoy to Gaza, and Aryeh Lightstone, a U.S. aide to special envoy Steve Witkoff. Someone needs to inform Mladenov that Hamas has already made a decision to reject disarmament. Over the past few months, Hamas leaders have consistently characterized disarmament as a "red line." There is something deeply misguided - if not outright dangerous - about the idea that the U.S. should beg Hamas to lay down its weapons. To ask Hamas politely to disarm is fantasyland. Hamas is a terrorist group whose foundational principles and actions are centered on the use of violent jihad (holy war) and the destruction of Israel. It cannot achieve its goal without holding onto its weapons. Hamas's 1988 Charter rejects any negotiated peace settlement, and emphasizes that jihad is the "only solution." On the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades released a video pledging to continue the fight "until the complete liberation of Palestine" - the elimination of Israel. "Every sacrifice brings Palestinians one step closer to their goal of complete liberation." Hamas will disarm only when it realizes that the cost of holding onto weapons exceeds the benefits. Treating disarmament as a voluntary goodwill gesture rather than a non-negotiable prerequisite is unfortunately a non-starter. Disarmament is a condition that must be enforced to prevent countless more Oct. 7-style massacres against Jews.