The prophet Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) states (17:5): „Cursed is the man who trusts in man.“
Alas, those who placed great hopes in the arrival of a friendly administration under Trump in the United States were bitterly disappointed yesterday. Trump took credit for the „deal,“ explicitly emphasising that it was achieved solely thanks to him! However, his pressure essentially forced concessions only from us — the Israeli side — while Hamas hardly gave up anything.
Trump declared yesterday: „We will ensure that Gaza will no longer be a haven for terrorists.“ Really? Sadly, it seems more likely that the opposite is true! Trump’s grand words, in practice, mean nothing and carry no real weight. Words alone will not drive Hamas out of Gaza. In fact, he never intended to do so. All he needed to do was avoid hindering us. On the contrary, as a result of this dreadful deal, Hamas remains the sole and undisputed authority in Gaza!
As things currently stand, Trump pressured Netanyahu to abandon the two main objectives of the war: the overthrow of Hamas’ rule and the elimination of its military power.
Now, because of this dangerous deal, Hamas remains in power and retains a significant portion of its military capability — at least four battalions remain fully intact in central camps (Nuseirat, Deir al-Balah), along with thousands of additional fighters supplementing these battalions.
Most crucially, Hamas is now using the IDF’s withdrawal from the sector and the temporary ceasefire — which could, according to the „deal,“ become a permanent ceasefire — to rebuild its strength, recruit tens of thousands of new fighters, train them, and arm them.
So, how exactly, from Trump’s perspective, will Gaza no longer be a haven for terrorists?!
These words are hollow. Just empty propaganda — an attempt to justify a dreadful deal that is extremely dangerous for Israel.
According to the „deal,“ the IDF must soon withdraw from the centres of the cities we liberated in the sector. Additionally, on the 22nd day, the IDF is required to fully retreat from the Netzarim corridor.
The IDF’s operations in the northern part of the sector, which have been ongoing until now, will be completely halted. This means that all militants located there will remain in place. Moreover, there will be a mass return of Arabs and militants to the area, located in immediate proximity to many Jewish towns and cities. And this will happen at the very beginning of the implementation of the „agreement“!
For most of the day, we will not even have the right to monitor what is happening in the sector using aircraft and drones.
Additionally, according to reports from Egypt, the IDF has already begun withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor. Some forces have already been pulled out. The reduction of our presence there — on the border with Egypt — could once again turn this area into a terrorist highway. Yes, it may not happen immediately, but there are far too many reasons to believe this is exactly what will occur.
It has also become known that some of the terrorists who will be released will head to Judea and Samaria! Others — more bloodthirsty ones — will return to Gaza. The most dangerous ones will be exiled abroad. What does this mean? It means that in Judea and Samaria, we can expect a wild surge of terror. And those exiled abroad (let us recall the „Shalit deal“) will become leaders of terror groups, and we will once again have to risk lives and spend colossal resources to track them down and eliminate them.
The number of trucks entering the sector with aid for Hamas (hypocritically called „humanitarian aid“) will double from 300 to 600! And all of this goes directly into Hamas’ hands, strengthening its uncontested dominance in the sector.
Much of this was agreed to by our government due to pressure from Trump (and Biden).
I repeat: as it currently stands, Israel has effectively abandoned the objectives of the war we fought for in a bloody conflict! Objectives for which hundreds of our soldiers gave their lives.
And all of this — for a partial deal, in which we will, at best, recover 23 live hostages and 10 bodies. What about the remaining 65 hostages? What further concessions will we have to make to bring them back? When will they be released, if at all... There are no answers.
Thanks to Trump, Biden, the Israeli media, and the protesters rampaging on Kaplan street, we have essentially signed a capitulation.
Yes, there is hope that we have yet to see the full picture, that we do not know about possible agreements between Netanyahu and Trump regarding the continuation and completion of our actions in Gaza, the resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, and perhaps something else.
Be that as it may, right now, this looks like a horrifying defeat for Israel. May the Almighty protect us and save us...