In some ways, the Israeli-Hamas war is a complex conflict that seems to further entangle the Gordian Knot that has been the Middle East for generations. In other ways, this conflict is rather straightforward, with one of the combatants making it plain there is only one solution they could ever agree to, and that is the elimination of their foe. 

That this stance now has delivered the reality of their own demise is something nearly inevitable. The latest round of international negotiations has all but unraveled, and now Israel is poised to strategically enter the city of Rafah. This will surely deliver more drama and strife in Gaza. Israel is intent on flushing out the Hamas presence in that city — one estimated to have recently taken in over one million displaced Palestinians.

Our own country is roiling, at least on college campuses, due to this war. The messaging from these activists has been in conflict with reality while at the same time lacking in cogent analysis by those reciting their impotent chants at rallies. What is always heard is how Israel is to blame, a call for a cease-fire is perpetual, claims of how that country is perpetuating genocide are a constant, and all of this is justified by the humanitarian plight experienced by the Palestinians. Those earnest souls delivering incantations from their supplied North Face tents would be best served checking the news on occasion.

Supposedly serious negotiations have been held over the past week in Cairo, with delegations from Israel, Hamas, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt all involved, yet again. That the two sides remain at a critical impasse is evident, but so is a pattern seen over the decades, and that is capitulating to a greater extent to Palestinian demands and having those offers called unacceptable.

One of the constant problems in these negotiations is the situation of Hamas still holding hostages from the October 7 attack on Israel. In the latest talks, an agreement was brokered where, in an exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, yet Hamas would release only 30 of the hostages. That the word “all” is never applied in these talks is a giant tell.

One of the other negotiation points from Hamas in these current talks was that of a permanent cease-fire. This is a mostly laughable demand, given the terrorist group has previously violated cease-fires and has spurned other attempts at establishing a similar end to the hostilities. Their stance of wanting this is more than just empty posturing; we can see directly just how insincere that group is on this negotiation front.

As these talks were underway, Hamas struck an IDF position with a rocket attack. This took place at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, with three Israeli troops killed and 11 others wounded from the air strike. Israel retaliated with an Air Force strike on the location where these rockets originated. But this was more than Hamas violating the very cease-fire it was calling for, proving it was not operating in good faith.

Karem Shalom is a primary access point for aid to be delivered into Gaza, and here is Hamas making an aggressive move that directly impacts the very support claimed to be needed for its own people. This has been a regular activity from Hamas, going as far back as last October, with frequent reports of the humanitarian aid said to be desperately needed by Palestinian people stolen by the leadership group. There is even the Rube Goldberg solution of the lengthy floating pier to be constructed in order to have relief shipped directly into Gaza and seeing that become targeted by Hamas. Yet, Israel is the entity perpetually blamed for the conditions experienced in Gaza.

This weekend underscored the fallacy of the media coverage, the pasta-firm spines of those in our State Department, and the impotent bleating heard from the college protests regarding Israel and this ongoing war. There would be significant progress if Hamas could ever step back from their mortars, allow the needed relief for their citizens to be dispersed, and return any (surviving) hostages to Israel. This cannot be a reality.

It is very clear the terror group wants to retain the leverage the hostages provide, and it has zero desire to halt hostilities towards the country it has long vowed to eliminate. The suffering of their own people is a needed PR stunt to further turn international support against Israel. Yet all the while, all we hear from the press and the co-dependent co-eds in their tent cities is that Israel needs to cease its attacks, and the people of Gaza need desperate relief. That this blame is entirely misplaced is too obvious today.