Hamas
Whether the Biden administration can accomplish its goal of helping rebuild Gaza after the latest conflict while bypassing Hamas is highly unlikely, according to experts on the region.
Matthias Schmale says his comments about IDF precision strikes during “Operation Guardian of the Walls”—and about there being no shortage of humanitarian supplies in the Strip—were “blatantly manipulated.”
“The signs at this stage are positive, but more than just nice words will be required,” says Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
The Biden administration believes that to prevent a return to violence, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas must be used “to address a larger set of underlying issues and challenges,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, starting with the “grave” humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Tensions are still simmering in places like Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, following violent riots that took place at the start of Ramadan in April, which carried over during the Gaza operation, spilling into in mixed Jewish-Arab cities throughout the country.
“The Israeli leadership has simply lost its moral compass,” says the father of the late Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose remains have been held by Hamas since “Operation Protective Edge” in 2014.
Col. (res.) Shaul Shay says the tight supervision of Gaza reconstruction and a clampdown on dual-use materials will be needed to prevent Hamas from restarting the buildup of its weapons program.
On whether Hamas would speak to U.S. President Joe Biden, Mahmoud al-Zahar said: “Why not? Mr. Biden, yes, he is supporting Israel, but I think we have a mission as Palestinian people to speak to him frankly.”
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman provides a rundown of the damage dealt to Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure. Defense Minister Benny Gantz praises “unprecedented” military achievements.
“The appeasement on the nuclear question leads to appeasement across the region,” said Michael Doran of the Hudson Institute. The Biden administration “cannot acknowledge the role Iran is playing in Gaza because if it does, it will be asked to leave the negotiating table in Vienna.”
When asked if she thought the conflict in the Middle East enflames the situation in the United Kingdom, Emily said it does, adding: “Every time something big happens there, the anti-Semitism here rises.”
“They are very influential people. I mean, they control media,” said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the Israelis.
