Hamas finds itself losing both on the battlefield in Gaza and in the diminished attention that the world is now giving to its conflict with Israel. More on this mounting disinterest can be found here: “Has Hamas lost the war?,” by Jake Wallis Simons, August 13, 2024:
…It seems that Hamas’s old tricks are beginning to fail them. With the November election dominating the news agenda stateside, the Olympics sucking up airtime in Europe and the Gaza rallies being diverted towards the far-right in Britain, the story is getting less oxygen. The Gaza activists, whose marches were once a disturbing fixture of city life across the west, ignored the al-Taba’een attack. In fact, they have been a shadow of their former selves all summer. With the universities on holiday and their Gaza encampments either deserted or dismantled, the wind seems to be ebbing from the sails of terror.
Other stories have diverted media attention from the Gaza war. While the Olympics were on, it was news about the games that dominated the news cycle: hundreds of hours of competitions were broadcast across the world; suddenly the Gaza war dropped to the end of the news hour, or most often, there was no news at all about the war which before the Olympics began had been the daily fare of newscasts. Once the Olympics ended, in the U.S. attention turned at once to the presidential election: Biden’s withdrawal, Kamala’s ascent, her choice of Tim Walz, and of course negative coverage of Trump and his running mate J. D. Vance, have helped push to the side media coverage of the Gaza war. It’s too bad for Hamas that both the Olympics, and the American presidential election are being held this year.
And along with the endless commentary on the two candidates, there is the media attention given to policy proposals of both parties — more attention is given to the Democrats’ proposals to help first-time homebuyers with $25,000 grants, to provide families with a $6,000 tax credit for each child, and to Trump’s proposals to end taxes on tips and social security, and to deal with the immigration crisis with mass deportations, than to that long-running and therefore now boring, to a public that always wants something new to distract it, conflict in Gaza. Much more airtime, and print inches, too, are being given over to electoral politics, more fodder for solemn talking heads, more comments on social media about the presidential race, analyses of policies and personalities, and excited reports of the latest opinion polls – who’s in, who’s out, and where are the snows of yesteryear? — all of it taking away from the attention given to covering that war slowly coming to its close in Gaza.
Now the Ukraine-Russia War is suddenly back in the news, with Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region of southwestern Russia. On the evening news, you will now see daily reports from the Ukraine-Russia battlefield — and those reports leave much less time, or often no time, to devote to the war in Gaza. Even the Hamas announcement that “40,000” Gazans had now been killed in the war, which would once have dominated the news for days, was either ignored, or given a one-minute mention on the nightly news. The fact that campuses are now quiet is because colleges are not in session during the summer.
For Hamas, this is more than simply a frustration. It represents the collapse of its main strategy for victory, by which confected international outrage is supposed to hamstring its superior democratic foe. This growing impotence comes as the group finds itself abandoned by its allies, exhausted in its fox-holes and suffering crippling military pain. For some months, it looked as if its propaganda efforts would succeed in forcing Israel not to invade Rafah in the south. To his credit, Netanyahu eventually shook off American concerns and the city fell quickly and with very few civilian casualties. As a result, the IDF now holds the Philadelphi corridor, an alley of land across the border between Egypt and Gaza.
Hamas placed great hopes on the pro-Hamas demonstrators who marched, protested, and set up encampments on American college campuses. It remains to be seen if the pro-Hamas groupuscules will reappear on campuses in the fall. In many universities, new codes of conduct, meant to prevent the harassment of Jewish students, displays of antisemitism, and the disruption of classes, have now been put in place by college administrators, who want no repetition of the chaos of this spring. Universities are now ready to deal effectively with those pro-Hamas demonstrators. They realize that the kid-gloves treatment does not work, and that the protesters, who prevent the smooth functioning of the universities, need to be arrested, fined, and even jailed, especially as so many of them, we now know, are not students at all, but outside agitators spreading their anti-Israel venom. Universities are now ready to close down those encampments, and to have those protesters arrested if they try to seize, or block entry to, university buildings.
This achievement [the IDF taking over Rafah] alone is throttling Hamas. For more than a decade, arms, ammunition, cash and supplies have been smuggled through the Philadelphi corridor into Rafah from Egypt, both via subterranean tunnels and with the assistance of corrupt officials at the regular crossing. All of this has stopped. Deprived of the ability to resupply and reeling from the deaths of two of its three most important leaders, Hamas finds itself peering into the abyss. It is no coincidence that it seems to be taking more kindly to the prospect of negotiations with Israel.
For the jihadis of Gaza, the war is starting to look like a miscalculation. Israel is wounded but showing intimidating levels of resolve and military might, with much more held in reserve. For this Hamas brought itself to the brink of destruction? For this it brought such suffering upon the heads of its own people? In launching the October savagery, it aimed to drag Iran and Hezbollah into a regional conflict that would herald the fall of Jerusalem. But its allies held back from the fray and have shown no sign of changing their minds. An Iranian reprisal for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will come. But most analysts expect it to be calibrated to fall beneath the threshold for open war….
Before the war that Hamas began on October 7, the terror group was believed to have 35,000 combatants. Now at least 17,000 of those combatants have been killed by the IDF, with an unknown number wounded. In other words, about half of Hamas’ fighters are dead, and it likely has far fewer than 18,000 who have not been wounded and are able to fight. That’s a colossal loss.
Ben says
Israel reacted too softly to the oct 7 attacks because terror base gaza is still not a parking lot.
Alena says
Yes. I agree.
Ernie says
In The Netherlands where I live , our national news outlet , the NPO ,pours out sob stories about the loss of “palestinian” lives , and other “palestinian suffering” stories every day . The stories very often are accompanied by disturbing pictures or film fragments containig wounded or dead “palestinian”children , mourning parents etc . . It’s pure HAMAS propaganda . It is infuriating and worrisome . Today many Jewish people live in fear in The Netherlands . This article is far too optimistic .
Ernie says
Mr. Fitzgerald , maybe your conclusion is somewhat influenced by what you wish ( to see ) . Maybe I worry to much….
Brigitte from Germany says
In Germany the same.
ElderlyZionist says
This is good news. But. Terrorists draw attention to their cause by committing spectacular atrocities.The worse they are losing, the more the danger increases. Keep your heads on a swivel, my friends.
Ernie says
Mr. Fitzgerald , maybe your conclusion is somewhat influenced by what you wish ( to see ) . Maybe I worry to much….
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Dear Ernie,
No, I take your point, and perhaps, as I learn about the situation in Europe only from a distance — though I watch French and Italian television — I’m being too pollyannish in my take on the situation. I still think that the anti-Israel pro-Hamas nitwits have both empty heads and short attention spans, and that attention can be diverted to other subjects. I’m sorry to hear about the Dutch media’s sympathetic and stupid coverage of the “poor Palestinians.”
Ernie says
Thank you for your reaction Mr. Fitzgerald . Your “nitwits” ; are they just a LOUD small insignificant minority of the population ? Well mr. Fitzgerald , not here in The Netherlands . The Red/Green- axis is still very numerous and powerful here . Many liberal lefties/bleeding hearts for so called “refugees” and so on here . They see Israel as THE OPPRESSOR , OCCUPIER , THE BAD GUYS and the “palestinians” as THE NOBLE OPPRESSED POOR VICTIMS , THE GOOD ONES . With these people facts and reason don’t count …… These folks , those “nitwits” are DANGEROUS !
Keys says
Yes, all these folks and nitwits are DANGEROUS here in the USA too, as you can see!
The tentacles of the red/green axis, and I think, the tentacles of Islam and the WEC have a hold on Western civilization and our entire planet.
mgoldberg says
And how is the movement to get geert wilders and his party into the positions that they legitimately won in the election. Is there much airtime about that?
Ernie says
Dear mr. Goldberg , the “new” sitting government of The Netherlands is just back from recess ( now for nearly a week) , just in position and starting work . The Freedom Party ( Wilders) is part of this government as you probably know . The new PM is Dick Schoof ( not affiliated with a political party )and Wilders stays in the house of commons ( or : stays a member of parliament ) . Wilders and the new government are clashing already….. . The government wants a two state solution for Israel and a “Palestinian State” ; Wilders wants a one state solution for Israel and ( correctly)considers Jordan as The Palestinian State …….. I think , as many other people who voted for Wilders Freedom Party , that Wilders should be Prime Minister ….
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Ernie
Thank you for your description on where Wilders stands. The Freedom Party should pick moments like this to threaten to topple the government if it does not take the side that’s in the best interests of the Dutch people. In this case, Israel’s side against the PLO
Wellington says
Hamas will really lose if Trump is elected because he will place sanctions back on Iran that Biden stupidly lifted. A bankrupt Iran will go a long way to thwarting Islamic terrorist designs. Trump will ensure this happens once again. By contrast, Harris will continue sucking up to Islamic tyrants.
But for Biden, October 7th in Israel would have almost certainly never happened because Trump had put Iran back on its heels. Oh yeah, Biden has blood on his hands. It’s part of his disastrous legacy.
Peacelover says
‘October 7th in Israel would have almost certainly never happened’……I am curious though,maybe you can help me. I am in support of Trump of course but how can he actually prevent what Hamas or other terrorists from doing what they do? Don’t they always just keep searching for a way to spread their terror? Unfortunately of course. Trump could help make things harder for them yes but ‘never happened/happen’?
By the way,I am Not trying to be disagreeable. It’s just,I have heard others say the same thing but I still have my doubts. No offense meant in my question.
cornelius says
Your question is absolutely valid. Trump will say anything. It’s possible he may have prevailed upon Putin not to invade Ukraine, but believe it or not, Hamas has an agenda of its own making….irrespective of who is in the White House.
I support Trump wholeheartedly because I’m fine with his policies….(even though he’s a narcissist and an idiot)…and because the alternative is so much worse. But I do wish to God that he would shorten his speeches for effect. It would never occur to someone like him with his gargantuan ego, but sometimes less is more.
Peacelover says
+ Thanks,appreciate your response/input
James Lincoln says
Yes, Wellington.
Pres. Trump kept Iran in a financial straitjacket.
No bucks – no Hamas.
Luchtpint says
Hamas finally overplayed its hand on 7th October and these terrorists have made their own bed, so now they can lie in it. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Brigitte from Germany says
Israel for ever and ever.
Jewish culture for ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJA7SabiBQ
Ernie says
Amen !
Walter Sieruk says
Those Jihadists of Hamas who viciously engaged in that vile heinous sex assaults and outright rapes as well as other malicious and murderous Islamic terrorist jihad attack against those peaceful young people at that music festival , on October 7th., are also horrendously heinous and vile by raping girls and women and brutally cruelly hateful and wickedly mutilating them are Muslim terrorists of the most abhorrent and despicable sort.
Those Hamas jihadists are an outright abomination.
Walter Sieruk says
Those deadly Islamic terror/ jihadist Hamas affront attacks as those which occurred on October 7th 2023 in the State of Israel are based Islam’s Qu’ran . As found in ,for example 2:191. 4:89. 5:33. 9:5,111,123. 47:4.
Therefore, an important question needs to and should be asked “Is the Qu ‘ran true or a religious hoax?”
Likewise, it’s also appropriated to ask ” Does the Qu’ ran have errors and contradictions in it ?
The answer to that question is found on pages 145 through 157 in THE ISLAMIC INVASION by Robert Morey in which he wrote a section on the Qu‘ran with its self-contradictions. Just two of the many he cited are the following “The Qu’ran differs on whether a day is a thousand years or fifty thousand years in God’s sight’ and “Who was first to believe? Abraham or Moses [Sura 6:14 versus 7:143]? The above is inconsistent and illogical. Further, Morey wrote about “The fact that Judaism and Christianity broke up into different sects was used in the Qu ‘ran to prove that they are not of God [Suras 30:20-32. 42:13, 14]. Yet Islam has broken up into many warring sects and therefore cannot be true if the Quran is right.”
Moreover, Morey in his book shows many more contradictions and absurdities in the Quran, there are and how Muhammad incorporated extra Biblical and Jewish folklore along with pre-Islamic Arabian myth and parts of Zoroastrian and Hindu stories into the Quran.
Furthermore, the Muslims claim that “the Quran is the direct, literal word of God unmodified in any way by the Prophet who uttered them at the bidding of God.” In addition , in the book UNVEILING ISLAM by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Eethi Caner has shown that the Quran was modified in the following account on pages 45. “Muhammad felt the need to improve on the words of Allah, since he changed Allah’s wisdom for his own on several occasions. A hadith tells of the nonchalant emendations of Muhammad:’ On a number of occasions he [a scribe] had, with the Prophet’s consent changed the closing words of verses. For example, when the prophet had said ‘God is mighty and wise ‘ Adbollah b. Abi Sarh suggested writing down ‘Knowing and wise’ and the Prophet answered that there was no objection. Having observed a succession of changes of this type, Adbollah renounced Islam on the grounds that revelations, if from God could not be changed at the prompting of a scribe such as himself. After his apostasy he went to Mecca and joined the Qorayshites.’ Other writers reveal that later Muhammad and his people did go war with the Qorayshites and he personally killed Abdollah. Obviously Abdollah knew too much and Muhammad wanted Abdollah’s knowledge to die with him.”
In conclusion, the Qu ‘ran which Hamas is based on is not only a fiction, it’s also a hoax.
Walter Sieruk says
The terrible truth and harsh reality is that many times history repeats itself, as then evil happenings repeatedly do reoccur especially when it comes to the subject of the violent and deadly religion that is Islam.
As with that October 7th. 2023 murderous jihadists attacks against all those young people at that music festival, which was intended by the Israeli’s to be a joyful event but the vicious and death infecting jihadist of Hamas turned it into a tragic event.
Six years before that Islamic abomination occurred at that place in the State of Israel ,there was that murderous jihadist bombing at a music concert in the city of Manchester of the United Kingdom, the British of the city had intended that concert to be a joyful event but that vicious and death inflecting jihadist suicide/homicide bomber turned it into a tragic event.
This year on March 22, 2024 on the outskirts of Moscow at another music concert there were more ISIS jihadists shootings in which 137 had been murdered by Muslim terrorists of ISIS in their jihad and at least 145 more people had been severely injured.
That’s three music events in three different nations that Muslims who are also malice –filled jihadists have engaged in murdering and maiming people in Islam’s jihad of Islamic terrorism which in instructed in the Quran, Surah 2:191. 4:89. 9:5,123 . 47:4.
The deluded dangerous deadly and demonic evils of the death cult Islam with its jihadists has no limit.
Isabella van der westhuizen says
In South Africa the ANC took money from Iran and also thought the so called Palestinian issue would win them votes. This was what they hoped for in the western Cape which has a Muslim community. The end result was catastrophic for the ANC. They dropped to 40 percent nationally and lost badly in the western Cape. Since then the Palestinian issue has slipped from the front page. SA for all its faults is a Christian country and no one really supports Palestine apart from the Muslim minority .
somehistory says
“Cowardly Hamas terror chief stalls cease-fire deal with ‘don’t kill me’ demand”
“Yahya Sinwar, the new head of Hamas, tossed yet another wrench into Gaza cease-fire talks with an rumored demand for a “don’t kill me” clause in any deal with Israel.
The mastermind of the Oct. 7 atrocities reportedly wants Jerusalem to guarantee his safety — permanently.
Never mind his years of tough talk that it would be an honor to die fighting Israel, nor his opposition to any cease-fire before his recent rise to head the terror group.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/cowardly-hamas-terror-chief-stalls-cease-fire-deal-with-don-t-kill-me-demand/ar-AA1ph9UZ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=37ae8e8afc2041e98f8d3e9e7e99c298&ei=50
James Lincoln says
somehistory says,
“Never mind his years of tough talk that it would be an honor to die fighting Israel…”
He’s a LIAR – like a devout muslim.
He will NEVER die fighting Israel.
He will hopefully die – and soon – by the actions of the IDF.