Hamas appears to spike cease fire deal that would have released hostages.

 

Smoke rises from Khan Yunis in Gaza. New York Post/Reuters.

Hamas appears to have vetoed an idea that would have released hostages and could have perhaps even ended the war. New York Post. The deal would have given Gaza aid and the release of prisoners in exchange for the release of remaining hostages and remains and four months of a cease fire, which would be used to create a peace deal. The hostages would be released in phases with children and the elderly released first, then female IDF soldiers, then males and then remains. Hamas rejected the deal saying they wanted a cease fire first before they even wanted to talk. Last week Hamas rejected a similar proposal that fell apart after Hamas demanded Israel unilaterally withdraw from Gaza. 

My Comment:

This was a better deal than Hamas deserves and it's honestly surprising that they didn't jump on it. Hamas is losing the war and Israel is winning so they are the ones that should be dictating terms. A ceasefire and the release of hostages, along with a real path to the end of the war, is about as good as terms they are likely to get. 

It makes me wonder if Hamas knows something we don't know. Perhaps they want the Houthi blockade in the Red Sea to work. Perhaps they know Hezbollah is going to join the war. Or perhaps they know that the United States and Iran are going to go at it. All of those things are possibilities and it would make sense that they would reject this deal if they knew everything was going to change quickly. 

Indeed, we are all waiting for what Joe Biden's next move is in the region. If he does move against Iran, and that's what the rumors are saying, then Gaza will just be a sideshow in a much larger regional war. They are kind of that already as the attacks in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and in the Red Sea are a lot more important to non-Israel countries then their activities in Gaza. 

Still, it does show that Hamas isn't really serious about ending the war. This is a good deal for them and if they were smart the would take it for sure. The fact that they are not shows a lot about the morality of this war. Hamas cares more about killing Israelis than protecting the people of Gaza or ending the war.

I also think that the people calling for an end of the war won't exactly be upset about Hamas rejecting this peace deal. From what I can tell they just hate Israel and Jews and won't be satisfied by anything other than an Israeli defeat, which is about as likely as a Ukraine victory at this point. You would think they would be more happy with a four month cease fire, but I guess that's not in the cards.