Hamas is on the ropes. At least 15,000 of its operatives have been killed by the IDF. After being pummeled in the north and in the center of Gaza, it is now under assault by the IDF in Rafah, in the southernmost part of the Strip. The IDF fighters have fought their way into the center of Rafah, determined to dismantle the last four intact battalions of the terror group. The IDF will not stop until that has been accomplished, and until the rest of the hostages, the ones whom Hamas has not yet murdered, are brought home. Yet Yahya Sinwar, knowing that the Bidenites are eager to have a “deal” to end the war in Gaza before the November election, has told his colleagues in Doha that “we have them [the Israelis] where we want them.” Now he has made demands that no Israeli government can possibly agree to, no matter who is prime minister, and that were not in the original “three-phase” deal that Biden made public at the end of May, and to which Israel then gave its reluctant consent a week later. Biden, not quite accurately, has described that deal as “Israel’s initiative.” Hamas would by its terms not only achieve an immediate ceasefire lasting six weeks, but by dragging out negotiations, during which Israel would still be committed to the ceasefire, the terror group’s combatants could then regroup.
More on Sinwar’s demand can be found here: “Hamas Demands U.S. Written Guarantees for Permanent Ceasefire in Hostage Deal,” Algemeiner, June 12, 2024:
Hamas has requested written guarantees from the United States for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip in order to finalize a U.S.-backed truce and hostage deal proposal, according to two Egyptian security sources….
The plan, unveiled by U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of May, outlines a gradual release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, culminating in the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the remains of deceased hostages in the third phase.
According to the Egyptian sources and a third source familiar with the talks who spoke to Reuters, Hamas is concerned that the current proposal lacks explicit guarantees for the transition from the first phase, which includes a six-week truce and the release of some hostages, to the second phase, which involves a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas insists on reassurances for an automatic transition between phases as outlined by President Biden, and Egypt is reportedly in contact with the U.S. regarding this demand. Hamas and Egyptian authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Biden indicated that if negotiations to advance to the second phase extend beyond six weeks, the ceasefire would remain in effect until those negotiations concluded.
This is exactly what worries Israel: Hamas could prolong the second-phase negotiations, during which Israel would be committed to respect a ceasefire, while Hamas combatants could regroup.
On Tuesday [June 12], Hamas described its response to the proposal as “positive,” stating it opened a “wide pathway” to an agreement….
Hamas can describe its response to the proposal as whatever it wants, but in fact it was not an acceptance, as millions of lawyers can testify, but a counter-offer. See Restatement of Contracts 87: “A counter-offer is an offer made by an offeree to his offeror relating to the same matter as the original offer and proposing a substituted bargain differing from that proposed by the original offer.” Hamas’ counter-offer, which it is pretending is a valid acceptance, blows up the original offer proposed by the Americans and the Israelis.
Sinwar is so convinced that the Bidenites want a deal, and soon, that he believes they will indeed agree to provide a “written guarantee” that there will be a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza. This Marlovian overreacher has miscalculated. The Biden administration will provide no such thing. It can’t do so, because it has neither the ability, nor the desire, to commit Israel to such a move.
In fact, Yahya Sinwar has already received his answer. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been clear. He has promptly criticized Hamas’s response to Israel’s [and America’s] hostage deal proposal, noting that the group suggested numerous changes, many of which were unworkable.
“Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table…Some of the changes are workable, some are not,” Blinken said….
“It may be that Hamas continues to say ‘no.’ [Then] I think it will be clear to everyone around the world, that it’s on them and that they will have made a choice to continue a war that they started,” he concluded.
And that’s where things stand. Yahya Sinwar can’t possibly climb down from his demands, made most publicly, at this point. And the Americans know that those demands are not just “unworkable,” but absurd. Sinwar does not appear to realize that it is Hamas that has been clobbered, and Hamas that should be suing for peace. He misunderstands Israel’s determination to complete its stated mission of destroying Hamas as a military force. So the war in Gaza will continue, thanks to Hamas’ misreading of the situation, in a spectacular display of cutting-off-your-nose-to-spite-your-face.
bagsgroove says
The Ham Asses demand ? Who do they think they are? Just a bunch of muslim terrorists on their way to their destruction. Thus do the tyrants forever fall. Hey hamasses remember how Mussolini looked hanging upside down ? Look it up.
Mike says
Yes. “Sic semper tyrannis.”
Mr. Sinwar is about to learn the veracity of that motto/proverb.
maria says
Sinwar should be killed because he is a new hitler
Kosh's Shadow says
First, Oct. 7 occurred during a “permanent ceasefire”
If Israel could count on the US and most of the rest of the world, the terms should be a “permanent ceasefire” means just that – any attacks on Israel from Gaza mean Hamas cannot be trusted, and the world would recognize Gaza as Israeli territory, with the Arabs displaced somewhere else. If Hamas pretends the attack was not by them, they have to help Israel get rid of the group that attacked. (Fat chance)
But the world would not enforce it; they would blame Israel, as they always do.
PRCS says
“Hamas pretends the attack was not by them, they have to help Israel get rid of the group that attacked.”
A bit of a quandary, eh?
Les says
Absolutely Kosh; there was casfire before 7th Oct
Frank Anderson says
NO promise made as part of ANY “deal” with opponents, Infidel or not, is binding. The delusional fools who pretend to negotiate are deliberately ignorant of the example set by “The Perfect Man and Perfect Example for All Time.” Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier are smiling for the company being added to theirs in history. “Deliberate Ignorance constitutes knowledge of the truth.” Wyle v. R,J. Reynolds, 9th Cir Ct App.
PRCS says
+1
James Lincoln says
100% true, Frank.
Mark Conley says
Hamas wants Biden to guaranty that Hamas can wage another brutal counter-attack like October 7 within 24 months o a Permanent Ceasefire (?!)
somehistory says
A permanent ceasefire….a one-way deal for them to keep on murdering….committing Oct 7 over and over as they have said they will do.
Oct 6, no Jew was shooting at them. All they had to do for a ceasefire to be permanent, was to not do what they did the next day.
JOHN ALLEN says
In 1904 Teddy Roosevelt instructed Secretary of State John Hay to demand “Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead.”
Today it should be, “All hostages alive and Sinwar dead.”
Ray Jarman says
Excellent opine John Allen and you hit the nail exactly on the head. My first reaction was since when does the losing side become the one’s making the demands? It would be like Hitler while hiding in his cave with his dear Eva Braun before committing suicide demanding that the Allies leave Germany in order him to regroup and try again. Biden with the assistance of the UN has made this test of survival for Israel seem like a Molière comedy only this is real and the villain exists and has only one goal which it to slaughter all Israelis.
James Lincoln says
Excellent analysis, Ray.
maria says
yes
Cia says
I don’t think Hamas is cutting off its nose to spite its face. Hamas only cares about its own continuance as a fighting and governing force, and cares nothing about noncombatant Gazans. It thought that Israel would not put up a strong resistance after thr shock and awe of 10/7. The strength and effectiveness of Israel’s forces have been stunning, an accomplishment in the annals of war. But Hamas has no other cards to play. It’s playing the sissy world for fools, hoping that it will force Israel to submit to the knife, which Israel will not do. This is the end game now. I’m a little surprised that Sinwar is such a coward. This is fall on your sword time, buddy. He’s just hoping against hope that the West’s antisemitism can again be used by Iran’s bloodlust. That’s it. He has nothing else.
abu taleb says
The usefu idiots must realiza that there is never permanent ceasefire for muslims, they want ceasefire only when they are overpower but once they have build some military strength, then they will attack again to kill, rape, torture and kidnap non muslims just like what Hamas did on 10/7.
47:35 So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islam), while you are having the upper hand. Allah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds
tgusa says
No matter how many are killed it doesn’t matter. They will always have a flow of believers funneling in to Gaza . where ever the fight is. The only solution is for Israel to take permanent possession of the Gaza strip. That area is nothing more than a corridor to smuggle in arms to use to kill Israelis.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
In the same way that US Dems – from Clinton to Obama to Biden – have interfered in Israeli elections in the past in attempts to remove Netanyahu, it’s high time Netanyahu returns the complement, but in a way that nobody can accuse him of that the way they accused the Russians
What he should do is drag out this operation but intensify it in October, increasing casualties of Hamas & even other Pali groups, be it Islamic Jihad, Fatah or anyone else. That will cause an outcry in the US, & force Biden to pick one side or another. He’ll risk losing votes of either muslims+other leftist Judeophobes, or he’ll risk losing Jewish donors & support. Most impact will be in states like Virginia & Michigan, maybe Minnesota too, states he can ill afford to lose
End result: Netanyahu, just by minding Israel’s own business, but doing it tactically, would have paid back the Dems for 30 years of trying to unseat him from power
Les says
They want a “Total Israeli Withdrawal”. Errrr, there was a Total Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza approx 20 years ago.
OLD GUY says
It’s time to rid the world of these little shit heads and their Hamas Gangs instead of shipping them millions of dollars and foreign aid.
Think about it would you stop being anti anything if America and others were sending you Millions of Dollars for being a TERRORIST.
Stop Foreign Aid to our ENEMIES.
If these S. Heads attack us or our allies, our military and CIA and what ever other three letter agencies should use what ever they can to take these leaders and their fighters down permanently.
Time to stop Pussyfooting around and get some real MEN and WOMEN in Charge in Washington.
ed says
15 K down 100 K times that to go