At the beginning of the war, Israel presented a few main goals: The collapse of the Hamas regime, the return of the Hostages from the Gaza Strip, and the long-term removal of the Gazan threat. In an article published yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu presented three of Israel’s conditions for peace: The destruction of Hamas, the dismantling of the Gaza Strip, and the De-Radicalization of its population. According to Netanyahu, the achievement of these conditions may present real peace (not only) in the Gaza Strip, and help create stability in the Middle East as a whole.
However, as the war continues, calls for a ceasefire in the international arena are increasing, before Israel has achieved its goals. The calls are directed mainly at Israel; but there is another player in the game.
Yesterday, Hamas announced an official rejection of Egypt’s (along with Qatari mediators) platform for a ceasefire, which included the expulsion and promise of protection of the Hamas leadership, the release of the hostages, and the establishment of an alternative Palestinian leadership in the Gaza Strip – possibly with some involvement of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas still adheres to the line it presented a month ago – a refusal to release even one more Hostage before Israel ceases fire, and an opposition to an alternative vision of control over the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, yesterday, a letter was published that was sent a few days ago by Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, to his partners of the Hamas leadership around the Arab world. In the letter, Sinwar describes the killing of thousands of Israeli soldiers and over 700 armored vehicles (exaggerated numbers, by all accounts), praising the “steadfastness” of the Palestinian people. Sinwar encourages his partners and fighters to continue the war at all costs, while presenting them with a false picture of Reality; It seems that protesters around the world who support a ceasefire, should first speak to him.
