The ceasefire that didn’t even make it to week two

When someone confidently said that this ceasefire would lead to ten-years of peace, I instinctively knew that the chances of that happening were slim to none.

That is because Hamas has shown us who they are and how far they were willing to go. No longer trustful of the once dubious peace partner, who we thought could be assuaged if enough money was thrown at them, October 7th put a decisive end to any delusions we may have had ever since they took over the governance of the Gaza Strip in 2006. 

The moment Hamas began to conduct barbaric public executions of Gazans, filming it for all to see, two things became apparent. The first was that they were not going to give up control of Gaza nor did they intend to relinquish their weapons.

If that was true, it should not have come as a surprise that they also had no intention of keeping the ceasefire agreement, signed less than a week ago, barely giving enough time for the ink to dry.

As reports surfaced that Hamas was strengthening their position, with each passing day, Israel had no choice but to launch airstrikes on Hamas strongholds after snipers attacked IDF forces in Rafah with anti-tank missiles and mortar fire. The area, marked by a yellow line, was drawn as a warning to Gazans, who are forbidden to approach, per the agreed upon ceasefire.

But what can you expect from the word of depraved reprobates who cold-bloodedly strangle the life out of babies with their own hands? If ever there was an example of making a bargain with the devil, this is it!

As delays began to occur in returning the dead hostages back to their families, who hoped to give them a respectable burial in their homeland, there was no doubt that Hamas was playing for more time.

In fact, Jerusalem Post writer, Seth J. Frantzman’s analysis was that “Hamas was demonstrating its ability to organize itself again as it continued to reassert itself in Gaza.” His conclusion was that “Hamas is still well-organized.” 

Just Saturday, the US State Department notified countries, who signed the ceasefire agreement, that there were "credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.” They went on to say that such a “planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement."

It’s reported that at least 32 Gazans have been executed by Hamas in just the past few days, an act which was met by harsh condemnation from President Trump, who posted the following on Truth Social, "if Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them." 

Of course, any Hamas violation would legitimize a military response by Israel for their failure to live up to the agreement. And so that is what has happened. Will things deteriorate even further? That remains uncertain.  

But no one will be shocked to discover that counting on terrorists is a foolhardy pursuit.  Because honoring an agreement requires a conscience, good will and a measure of integrity – attributes which do not characterize these monsters. 

Unfortunately, this is the result of misplaced diplomacy – thinking that peace can be achieved in a civilized manner with uncivilized barbarians. Why would anyone believe that, after coming this close to fulfilling their goal of invading Israel, Hamas would suddenly surrender in defeat?

If anything, they are feeling more emboldened than ever – to the point where they are back to filming their favorite pastime of murder. But now, it’s of their own people.  

Where is the outrage, the planned flotilla or the violent campus protests, expressing rage over the killing of Gazans? Don’t spend too much time looking for the indignation and fury, because you won’t find it. That is something only reserved for Jews when they dare to defend themselves.

What is clear is that the fighting has resumed. The Israeli forces have renewed their targeting of Hamas infrastructure within Gaza, per the latest news. And every act of aggression by Hamas will be met with a swift response. Will that stir up the Houthis to, once again, launch rockets into Israel? Only time will tell.

For now, we have yet to receive the remaining 16 dead hostages, 14 of whom are Israeli, with the other two being foreign nationals. Those family members are anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones, so that they can finally bring closure to a nightmare they’ve been forced to live for the past two years.

Sadly, this ceasefire breach may impact that return indefinitely, but Hamas must not be permitted to regroup and remain a looming threat both to us and to their own people who are now in great peril as they try to make their way back to the homes which were destroyed, thanks to the wanton acts of their own leaders.

No healing can begin if Hamas is permitted to live another day. It is the reason that no further agreements should be made, predicated on their agreeing to lay down their weapons and leave Gaza. As we can already see, this is not likely to happen unless they are forcibly removed or eradicated. 

If the Arab countries, who signed on to the ceasefire agreement care anything for the well-being and safety of the Gazan people, they must be willing to support a move which will permanently put an end to the evil terrorists who have held these people captive for nearly 20 years, leaving them homeless and vulnerable to further suffering.

This will be a good test to see just how much they really care, because if they are not willing to remove the threat to peace, brought on by those who will stop at nothing in their objective to kill and sow chaos in the Middle East, then their joint signatures were nothing more than a staged production which had no meaning.

Hamas’s ceasefire violation is a decisive moment which must be seen as the death knell to these terrorists who have not only held Israelis hostage but have brazenly tried to take advantage of a one-time opportunity they were given to fade into the sunset.

Such an option must never again be given to them!