Hamas ‘still winning’ after 6 months: Newsweek

Although the world’s focus is shifting toward the current predicament between Iran and “Israel,” Hamas, the Palestinian resistance, is dictating the ceasefire terms, according to journalist Lee Michael Katz.

Katz details in Newsweek that Hamas rejected the most recent plan, on April 13, as confirmed by a high-ranking Palestinian Resistance official who told Al Mayadeen that Hamas delivered its response to the latest proposal it received from mediators in Egypt and Qatar. 

However, in fact, Hamas’ response included clauses on several issues disputed by the Israeli occupation’s negotiators, the sources added. 

Katz blames the ongoing genocide in Gaza on Hamas, making it very unconventionally apart from other “losers of a war” that usually surrender following the mass carnage of their people. 

He believes the “reason for this stupefying defiance of all wartime norms of victory and defeat is simple: so far, Hamas has been winning.”

Katz adds that this win is not taking place on the battleground but rather by captivating the world’s attention, citing the recent effort to recognize Palestine in the UN.

Palestine, which has had observer status at the world body since 2012, has lobbied for years to gain full membership, which would amount to the recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Protests throughout the world call for a Palestinian state that extends “from the river to the sea,” and numerous cities around the US protest in solidarity with Palestine. Support is also building in Congress, particularly among Democrats, to impose restrictions on military supply to the occupation.

Katz further laments the TikTok videos that show solidarity with Palestine, calling it a “propaganda victory”.

He calls the deaths of World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza “heartbreaking” since Israeli deadly reactions allow Hamas to win. 

The journalist blames Hamas for “Israel’s” unhinged murderous tactics, believing that had Hamas agreed to a captive deal, numerous deaths and massacres may have been avoided. 

Katz seems to willingly leave out one important fact in terms of the ongoing talks for a deal. Without Hamas’ conditions for a deal, specifically the complete ceasefire part, “Israel” would fulfill the deal, retrieve its captives, and re-embark on its ongoing genocide in the Strip, especially that, as it seems, no one is able to force “Israel” to halt its war machine. 

Hezbollah, Hamas only get stronger as ‘Israel’ claims fake victory: JP

An article in the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported on “Israel” setting a minimum threshold for “victory” on multiple fronts, highlighting its failure in dealing with Hezbollah and Hamas, whose capabilities have been increasing over the years. 

Israeli writer and analyst Seth Frantzman said that “Israel” started systemically from the bottom in every war to set a minimum threshold for victory on multiple fronts. As an example, he added, the Israeli occupation is not trying to respond to Yemen or Iraq; it has evacuated Israeli settlers from the occupied north and the borders of Gaza, which is a first. 

He further elaborated that “Israel” is mainly focusing on facing Hezbollah’s Radwan Force and Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, as it seems to believe that defeating them is a victory. However, this is the root of the problem from an analytical perspective. 

Frantzman said that when Hamas was created, it did not have any organized brigades as it was a much smaller group, but it turned into an “army” including battalions because no one stopped it. 

In all of “Israel’s” wars on Gaza, it claimed that it had achievements against Hamas, but in reality, Hamas quickly recovered and further expanded. 

Hence, he added, the 24 brigades are an example of “Israel’s” failure in managing the “conflict with Hamas” as it has only become exponentially stronger.