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Why the War with Hamas Will Not End

(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch - Hamas is not a pragmatic actor, it is a genocidal terrorist organization. It is not interested in promoting the best interests of the Gazans. Instead, Hamas is driven by an ideology devoted to the supposed divine promise of reward to those who engage in "Jihad." When Hamas launched the October 7 massacre, they knew they would not destroy Israel and that the attack would most probably evoke a harsh Israeli response. That did not interest Hamas. For Hamas, the death and destruction in Gaza is nothing more than the "Price of Jihad," and the very fact that they persist in achieving their goals, despite the losses, is proof of their religious devotion. Surrender, in the eyes of Hamas, is a breach of the religious genocidal belief that has been a guiding principle of the movement since its creation. Moreover, accepting the terms of the latest plan would mean that Hamas would be relinquishing the last stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, and that, in the absence of a clear victory, the organization would lose its position in the Palestinian street. Only by understanding what drives Hamas is it possible to understand what could potentially motivate them to accept a deal to end the war. Business concerns, prosperity, and security for Gazans do not entice Hamas. While Israel and the international community see the death of Israelis and Gazans as a tragedy, for Hamas, the death and destruction are a strategy. The writer, former director of the Military Prosecution in Judea and Samaria, is director of the Palestinian Authority Accountability Initiative at the Jerusalem Center.
2025-10-05 00:00:00
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