Any truce or cease-fire agreement can only be maintained if BOTH sides actually abide by the conditions agreed upon. This means that both sides must benefit. For Israel, the latest truce is designed to get Hams (and their partner the Islamic Jihad) to release hostages they took on 7 Oct 2023. For Hamas, it is a chance to reestablish control over Gaza and rebuild their military branch.
Psychologists tell us that behavior is governed by perceptions. All the video covering the release of hostages (on both sides) is being manipulated by Hamas to make an impression on viewers both local and international. Did you notice that all the Hamas guards are wearing crisp, new uniforms? And they are carrying the ubiquitous Kalashnikov rifles? They have masks so that they cannot be easily recognized. The crowds along the route the Red Cross takes to return them to Israel all engage in vocal violence and shout pro-Hamas and Anti-Israel slogans. Why? To give the impression that they have won the war! Their thinking is actually very simple. As the weaker side, the very fact of their survival is a victory; while the stronger Israeli side has failed to totally destroy them, which is a defeat.
Wars are fought for political objectives, and Hamas is interested only in furthering their aim of destroying Israel. They have the support of most of the major TV networks and a lot of countries. Hamas cares nothing for International Humanitarian Law (Which requires that civilian captives be released immediately) and they also care nothing for truthful reporting (Hamas provides photographers, cameramen, and even texts to the journalists they allow to report from inside Gaza.
Their supporters filed fallacious claims against Israeli leaders, accusing them of “genocide” and killing civilian women and children. Victorious armies ARE responsible for protecting civilians in areas where they are in full control, but International law does NOT require that a belligerent supply water, electricity, or fuel, to territory controlled by other side during actual hostilities.
Gazan civilians are suffering. Mostly because the massive amounts of aid that various countries and organizations send are taken over by armed Hamas guards as soon as they are able to do so. Hamas takes what it needs for itself and gives (or sells) the remainder to people who support them to sell to others less fortunate. This behavior has been well documented and photographed, but networks like CNN rarely air such footage. They prefer to show Hamas provided pictures which are often staged or faked.
Wetherhorn 