Sometimes you just have to show someone what you mean by "...or else." The Trump administration and Israel may be approaching that point with Hamas, who show very little inclination to abide by any cease-fire agreements. A piece Monday in the Washington Free Beacon reports that Hamas is, even now, rebuilding its arsenal and launching low-scale (for now) attacks on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops who are charged with enforcing the cease-fire.
Hamas is working to replenish its military arsenal even as the second phase of President Donald Trump's peace plan requires the terror group to disarm, according to photos released by the Israel Defense Forces and statements from Hamas leaders. Hamas has conducted an increasing number of attacks against Israeli soldiers in recent days, while the IDF has discovered explosives hidden in United Nations provisions close to the ceasefire line where Israeli forces are operating.
Of course they have - it's what they do. These are not just terrorists; they are liars; they lie when the truth would be to their advantage; they lie as naturally as they breathe. Anyone who thinks these people can be trusted in any agreement needs to visit a head-candler and have their brain examined.
The most recent "blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement" took place on Monday, when "four armed terrorists exited an underground tunnel shaft and fired towards IDF soldiers" operating in Gaza's Rafah neighborhood, according to a statement from the IDF, which said it eliminated all four militants. A similar incident occurred on Sunday, when Hamas attacked IDF soldiers near the yellow ceasefire line. There has been one such attack each day since Feb. 5, with numerous others dating back to the earliest days of the ceasefire. The intricate tunnel system beneath the streets of Gaza has remained operational as well, according to the IDF.
Of course it has. Hamas has no intention of giving these things up. They won't disarm, they will just hide their arsenals until time to use them again. It's what they do.
Last week, meanwhile, Israeli forces discovered "110 mortar shells hidden in [U.N. Relief and Works Agency] humanitarian aid bags" as well as "several rockets and additional weapons" hidden inside blankets. Hamas stored the weapons near locations where Israeli troops have been dismantling terror infrastructure, suggesting the group had planned an ambush.
An ambush, or improvised explosive devices - IEDs. Either is bad. Either is an act of war. Either breaks any semblance of a cease-fire.
President Trump has warned Hamas that they can give up their weapons and their terror tactics, "...the easy way or the hard way." It's becoming abundantly clear that it's going to have to be the hard way.
Read More: Hamas Is Looking for a Role in Gaza Police, and I Can't Think of a Worse Idea
Hamas won't stop. They won't give up. They won't disarm. They will have to be forced to do so. The same applies to Hezbollah, the Islamic State, and all similar groups of Islamic terrorist goblins. They will have to be shown the "or else." Nothing else will work.
In the case of Gaza, it remains as I've been saying all along: There will be no lasting peace in Gaza until Hamas is no longer a factor.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
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