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Why Hamas Should Heed President Trump's Warnings

(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Dr. Dan Diker and Yoni Ben Menachem - The Israeli Security Cabinet meeting on Feb. 11 will discuss the second stage of the hostage-for-terrorist deal with Hamas and Israel's red lines in those negotiations. Those red lines, which were agreed upon with President Trump during Netanyahu's Washington visit, include the return of all the hostages, the complete demilitarization of Gaza, and the deportation of the Hamas military leadership to destinations abroad. Hamas would be well advised to heed Trump's warnings. Trump has publicly endorsed Israel's right to continue its war to defeat Hamas and affiliated jihadi groups such as Islamic Jihad and other armed local clans. Hamas has already rejected Israel's redlines out of hand. It is well understood in Jerusalem and Washington that Hamas's rejection will prevent the completion of stage two of the ceasefire agreement. Additionally, Washington's intentions to pressure Hamas via its intermediaries in Qatar and Egypt will most likely fail. This imminent collision has left a small interim window in which to receive additional hostages for the return of additional terrorists in order to delay an inevitable clash with Hamas. President Trump's declarations to Hamas are far more than mere rhetoric. These are concrete intentions backed by Israeli military readiness and American-Israeli coordination. Dr. Dan Diker is President of the Jerusalem Center. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center.
2025-02-11 00:00:00
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