US President Biden went to Israel. But the Hamas propaganda machine was able to prevent that visit from reaching the conclusions that re becoming more and more important. Biden was supposed to travel to Amman, Jordan, for a meeting with several Arab leaders. The false story of the Gaza hospital bombing resulted in that meeting being cancelled. The big losers from this are the poorer Palestinians. The proposed meeting would likely have concentrated on what Gaza could become once Hamas was gone. Blocking that kind of discussion is a major victory for Hamas.
The lack of dramatic military action has allowed Hamas to concentrate on ‘humanitarian’ issues. Those stories usually get a sympathetic ear in free societies. Mention of Hamas atrocities is now an older story and no longer in the main content of most Western media. The Hamas refusal to conduct direct talks with Israel about anything was never a major attention getting item. Talking about ‘humanitarian’ issues allows Hamas, using international support, to possibly gain some concrete concessions without any change in their ultimate aim of destroying Israel.
Israel needs to release more information about Hamas atrocities and push for the unconditional release of all hostages. This must be done hand in hand with the denial of any equivalence between the actions of Hamas and of Israel. An early military move might also redirect media interest. Maybe it’s worth mentioning that there are some 4000 Gazans, holders of Israeli work permits, trapped on the Israeli side of the conflict. How about a swap?
Finally, I must add a word about the other Arab countries. Neither Egypt nor Jordan is willing to accept Gaza Palestinians. The Gaza schools have indoctrinated all their students with an extremist Islamic Jihad mentality. Many are willing to give their lives to the Hamas cause. There is no place for them to go. Palestinian refugees who grew up in UNRWA camps in Syria fled that country as soon as they could. When asked, they said they were Syrian refugees, not Palestinians. Hamas’ Irredentist Islamic extremism is a danger to the world. They must be deprived of the means to use violent military means in support of their aims.
Wetherhorn 