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Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22596/hamas-disarmament-charade
The Ongoing Charade of Hamas Disarmament
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Six months after President Trump announced his ceasefire initiative for Gaza, Hamas is still armed, still in control of large parts of Gaza, and still openly refusing to surrender its weapons. Last week, mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey gathered in Cairo with Hamas leaders and representatives of several Palestinian factions in yet another attempt to persuade the Iran-backed Islamist group to comply with Trump's peace plan, which calls for the demilitarization of Gaza and the decommissioning of weapons held by Hamas and other armed groups. The message Hamas is sending remains as defiant as ever. Hamas continues to set conditions before it would even consider surrendering its weapons. Among its demands are a full Israeli withdrawal, increased humanitarian aid, guarantees for the safety of its leaders and members, the dismantling of armed groups it claims are backed by Israel, and the integration of its administrative personnel into any future governing structure in Gaza. Hamas is behaving like a victorious army dictating its terms. The notion that Hamas would voluntarily surrender the means that allow it to dominate Gaza, intimidate Palestinians, and wage jihad (holy war) against Israel is detached from reality. Hamas did not spend decades building a military infrastructure, digging tunnels, stockpiling rockets, and indoctrinating generations of Palestinians only to hand over its weapons because mediators asked politely. Terrorist organizations do not voluntarily negotiate themselves out of existence. No serious observer believes that Hamas would permanently relinquish its military capabilities while continuing to exist as a political movement. Any agreement that allows Hamas to survive politically while retaining influence over Gaza is only postponing the next war. The fundamental problem with the current approach is that it treats Hamas as a legitimate political actor. Negotiating with Hamas over whether it should surrender its weapons is like negotiating with a bank robber over whether he should keep his gun. That Qatar and Turkey are once again serving as mediators just adds another layer of lunacy to the process. Both countries have long been among Hamas's most important political and financial supporters. Hamas leaders have enjoyed safe haven in Qatar and Turkey for years. Hamas and Iran are not interested in peace. They are interested in survival. In their eyes, if they can maneuver the "Great Satan," the U.S., to compromise, they win and America loses. Survival means remaining armed so that they can continue pursuing the elimination of Israel.