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 powerful countries, refuses to bow to pressure from the United States, Egypt and Qatar. What on earth is Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of Hamas, thinking? Is he simply a delusional psychopath, devoid of rational reasoning?
Probably not. Sure, he’s the devil incarnate, but he’s not completely crazy.
Sinwar, who clearly still has some connection to the outside world, is no doubt aware that many young people, as well as progressives and the usual assortment of anti-Semites, have turned violently against Israel and, by extension, all Jews. He is no doubt aware that the mainstream media and international agencies blame Israel for all of Gazans’ suffering – from forced displacement to alleged starvation and the wanton murder of their people.
It is fair to say that the Jewish homeland has never experienced this kind of collective condemnation, outrage and retribution in its 76-year history, leading many to wonder whether Israelis are, in fact, the monsters they are made out to be. At a time when Israel is being accused of committing “genocide” by international courts and sovereign countries, such as South Africa: why would Sinwar lift a finger to do anything? After all, if things implode, all one has to do is sit in the front row and watch what happens.
The strategy of doing nothing is often successful. It was recently used by former US President Donald Trump, before the recent presidential debate with US President Joe Biden. Many political advisers advised Trump to simply let Biden speak without interruption, knowing that in such a situation the president would be responsible for his own political demise. That is exactly what happened.
There is no doubt that Sinwar has capitalized on student protesters, biased media, haters of Jews, defenders of Palestinians, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and many others, all of whom constitute a growing movement against Israel and its people, whether present in the country or purely for ethnic reasons.
This new wave of baseless accusations and blame is a useful weapon in Hamas’ arsenal, allowing it the luxury of a “do nothing” strategy while others pile on the blame, hoping to portray Jews as the real perpetrators.
Sinwar has been basking in the residual effects of Israel’s self-defense since October 7, reveling in the fruits of the labor of those who, not necessarily wanting to be counted as his assistants, carry out his orders – along with his terrorist minions whose aim is to eradicate those who do not adhere to his radical beliefs.
It is plausible to conclude that Hamas’s intransigence in refusing to release the remaining 120 hostages is a direct result of the fury unleashed against Israel in many different areas, this gratuitous support allowing the terrorist organization not to capitulate in any way.
And yet, it is not only the benefits of all this Jew-hatred that strengthen and embolden Hamas, whose leaders are hailed as the true “heroes” in the battle of good versus evil. One must also ask: “How intense is the pressure (on Hamas) from the United States, Egypt and Qatar, whose efforts are supposedly being rebuffed?”
A fragile friendship
Just a few weeks after October 7, the very warm support and sympathy of the United States, supposedly Israel’s greatest and most loyal ally, turned into a lukewarm, fragile and hesitant support, which has weakened over time. Calls for a two-state solution followed, presented as the only way forward, despite the obvious absence of a trustworthy and reliable leader for Gazans.
Of course, calls for two states completely ignore the fact that the Palestinians are not at all interested in sharing the land with the Jews, but are rather obsessed with the pie as a whole.
As for Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department, the Pentagon, and other major players who think they know what is best for the Middle East, their complete lack of unwavering support and determination to eradicate the terrorist threat in our part of the world has only emboldened groups like Hamas and its leaders—who sense a spirit of appeasement as well as a lack of courage.
Egypt has also facilitated arms smuggling through the tunnel network, which was reportedly incorporated into its territory as early as 2007. Although Egypt built an underground barrier in 2009, expressly to deter the construction of new tunnels, it reportedly eased restrictions on its border with the Gaza Strip in 2011, allowing Palestinians to cross freely. Although the Egyptian military officially destroyed most of the 1,200 smuggling tunnels between 2013 and 2014, it clearly preserved a few, which provide a key artery for arms supplies.
So the message to Hamas was: “You can smuggle weapons, but we don’t want to appear to be facilitating your efforts.” And yet they did it, so why should any pressure from them be taken seriously at this point?
Finally, there is Qatar, the stronghold of Hamas’s top leaders, who have reaped the benefits of the billions of dollars that have flowed into their country from the treasures amassed by those who have significantly enriched the 11,655-square-kilometer peninsula that borders Saudi Arabia.
Given these ultra-rich terrorists/financiers who are harbored with impunity and who undoubtedly call the shots, what kind of pressure is Qatar putting on Sinwar and Hamas?
Although the Qataris are considered willing negotiators, how far are they willing to go to free the hostages, and what kind of incentive does Hamas have when Qatar “has been a key financial supporter for them, transferring more than $1.8 billion to Hamas over the years”?
Is it still unclear why Hamas does not want to surrender?
The author is a former elementary and secondary school principal in Jerusalem. She is also the author of Mistake-Proof Parenting, available on Amazon, based on the time-tested wisdom of the Book of Proverbs.
