Hamas back in control of Gaza during ceasefire

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

JUST DAYS AFTER A CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TOOK EFFECT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, A NEW DEVELOPMENT IS GETTING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. HAMAS-RUN POLICE ARE NOW BACK PATROLLING THE STREETS OF GAZA.
UNDER TERMS OF THE CEASE-FIRE, POLICE OVERSEEN BY HAMAS ARE RESPONSIBILE FOR KEEPING LAW AND ORDER AMONG PALESTINIANS AND WILL MONITOR THE MOVEMENT AND RE-ENTRY OF PALESTINIANS INTO THE THEIR HOMES. HAMAS POLICE FORCES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED NEAR ISRAELI TROOPS AND ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER BUFFER ZONES NEAR THE BORDER WITH ISRAEL.
THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAELI SECURITY OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY URGED PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR GOVERNING GAZA IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR. BUT SO FAR, NETANYAHU HAS NOT DONE SO. HAMAS HAS NOW STEPPED IN TO FILL THAT GAP, DESPITE THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SAYING AT THE OUTSET OF THE WAR THAT ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES WAS TO CRUSH HAMAS.
THE WAR BEGAN AFTER HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, KILLING AN ESTIMATED 1200 ISRAELI CITIZENS AND TAKING ANOTHER 250 HOSTAGE. ISRAEL RESPONDED WITH A GROUND AND AIR CAMPAIGN THAT REDUCED MUCH OF GAZA TO RUBBLE AND LEFT ABOUT 47,000 PALESTINIANS DEAD, ACCORDING TO THE HAMAS-RUN PALESTINIAN HEALTH MINISTRY. MANY OF HAMAS’S TOP LEADERS WERE ALSO KILLED.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, BEFORE THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATIONS IN WASHINGTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN WARNED THAT HAMAS HAD RECRUITED NEARLY AS MANY NEW FIGHTERS THAT IT LOST IN THE WAR, CALLING THE TERROR GROUP “A CHAMELEON”.
ON SUNDAY, THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER STATED A PERMANENT END TO THE WAR WOULD REQUIRE HAMAS TO GIVE UP POWER IN LATER NEGOTIATIONS. HE SAID THERE WOULD BE NO PEACE, STABILITY OR SECURITY IN THE REGION IF HAMAS REMAINS.
STILL, HAMAS IS SHOWING ITS AUTHORITY BY PARADING THROUGH THE STREETS OF GAZA, IN UNIFORMS AND ARMED, WHILE FLASHING VICTORY SIGNS.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WEIGHED-IN ON THE MATTER, WHILE TAKING QUESTIONS IN THE OVAL OFFICE AFTER HIS INAUGURATION MONDAY. HE SAID HE IS NOT CONFIDENT THE CEASE-FIRE WILL LAST AND THAT GAZA LOOKS LIKE A MASSIVE DEMOLITION SITE. I’M C-N FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR GO TO SAN.COM