Eli Podeh, a professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, wonders why Hamas, a relatively insignificant organization compared to the powerful nations, does not succumb to pressure from the US, Egypt and Qatar. What on earth is Hamas’ leader, Yahya Sinwar, thinking? Is he simply a delusional psychopath lacking the capacity for rational thought?
Probably not. He is the devil himself, but he’s not completely insane.
Sinwal, who clearly still has some connection to the outside world, is no doubt aware that many young people join progressives and the usual anti-Semites in viciously attacking Israel and, by extension, all Jews. He is no doubt aware that Gazans blame Israel for all their suffering, from their forced displacement to their supposed starvation to their unjust killings.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Jewish homeland has never experienced such collective condemnation, indignation and denunciation in its 76-year history. This has led many to wonder if Israel is, in fact, the monster it is being made out to be. Why would Sinwar lift a finger to do anything now that Israel has been accused of committing “genocide” by international courts and sovereign nations such as South Africa? After all, if things are falling apart, all he needs to do is have a front-row seat and watch it happen.
The strategy of doing nothing often works. Most recently, former US President Donald Trump adopted this strategy ahead of the presidential debate with US President Joe Biden. Many political advisers instructed Trump to let Biden speak uninterrupted, knowing that in such a situation the president would be held responsible for his own political downfall. And that is exactly what happened.
There is no doubt that Sinwar is betting on protesting students, biased media, Jew-haters, Palestinian advocates, progressive Democrats, and many others, all of whom have growing antipathy toward Israel and its people, whether in domestic or ethnic ties.
This new stream of accusations and unfounded accusations is a useful weapon in Hamas’ arsenal, allowing it to afford a strategy of “doing nothing” while others pile on crime in the hope of painting Jews as the real bad guys.
Sinwal is basking in the aftermath of Israel’s self-defense since October 7, rejoicing in the fruits of the labor of those who may not necessarily want to be counted among his assistants, but who follow his orders along with his terrorist minions whose goal is to eradicate those who do not conform to their radical beliefs.
Hamas’ stubborn refusal to release the remaining 120 hostages is a direct manifestation of its anger towards Israel on multiple fronts, and it is fair to conclude that its unconditional support means the terrorist organization will not give in in any way.
Yet it is not just the benefits of hatred towards Jews that have led Hamas leaders to be celebrated as true “heroes” in the battle between good and evil. We must also ask: How strong is this pressure? [on Hamas] What do you think about the efforts from the US, Egypt and Qatar that have allegedly been rejected?”
Fragile friendships
Just a few weeks after October 7, the very warm support and sympathy of the United States, Israel’s largest and most loyal ally, turned into lukewarm, shaky and hesitant support that weakened over time. Calls for a two-state solution continued as the only way forward, despite the apparent absence of a popular and trustworthy leader for the people of the Gaza Strip.
Of course, the call for two states takes no account of the fact that Palestinians have no interest in sharing land with Jews, but would rather cling to the whole pie.
As for Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department, the Pentagon, and other key players who think they know what is best for the Middle East, the complete lack of unwavering support and commitment to eradicating the terrorist threat in our region has only emboldened those like Hamas and its leaders, who sense a spirit of appeasement and a missing spine.
And Egypt is a country that, by some reports, has facilitated arms smuggling through a network of tunnels established on its territory as early as 2007. Egypt built an underground barrier in 2009 with the express purpose of stopping new tunnels, but in 2011 it reportedly relaxed restrictions on its border with the Gaza Strip, allowing Palestinians to pass freely. Egyptian forces officially destroyed most of the 1,200 smuggling tunnels between 2013 and 2014, but some tunnels were apparently preserved as important arteries for arms supplies.
So, in effect, we were sending a message to Hamas: “We’re OK with you smuggling weapons, but we don’t want to be seen to be facilitating it.” But they did smuggle weapons, so why should we take their pressure seriously at this point?
Finally, Qatar is home to Hamas’ supreme leadership and has benefited from the billions of dollars that have flowed into the country through the hoards of people who have made its 4,500 square miles of land immensely rich. [11655 sq. km.] A peninsula bordering Saudi Arabia.
With these super-rich terrorists and their financiers protected with impunity and arguably at the helm, what pressure is Qatar putting on Sinwar and Hamas?
Qatar is seen as a good-faith negotiating partner, but how far is it willing to go to secure the hostages’ release, and what are Hamas’s incentives, given that Qatar is “a significant financial supporter of Hamas, having transferred more than $1.8 billion to Hamas over the years”?
Is it still not clear why Hamas will not surrender?
The author is a former primary and secondary school principal in Jerusalem and the author of Mistake-Proof Parenting (available on Amazon), which draws on the time-tested wisdom found in the book of Proverbs.
