'No place on earth is safe' for Hamas leaders – 'not even a Jacuzzi in Qatar', says one Israeli official, as Hamas leadership collapses after Yahya Sinwar's death “A real opportunity” has been created, he said. He blasted those skeptical of Israel's military strategy, saying they now see how terrorist groups can be destroyed in the same way the West defeated tyranny in World War II. Ta.
On Thursday, Israeli government officials spoke about Yahya Sinwar's influence in an interview with Breitbart News. death Regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The official said the removal of Shinwar, one of Hamas' main military leaders, could cause a collapse in morale among the remaining leadership and pave the way for local Hamas commanders to surrender. .
“This is a key moment in the war,” the official said, noting that the return of the hostages, who are currently scattered in different parts of Gaza, “could now be a realistic scenario.”
“This could cause the remaining military leadership of Hamas to morally collapse and lose the will to continue fighting, and we could see the local population become disorganized as a result.” [Hamas] Commanders have surrendered, some with hostages known to be elsewhere. ”
The official stressed that Sinwar was an obstacle to any negotiations and ironically his death could increase the chances of the hostages' safe release. He dismissed concerns that Hamas's lack of centralized leadership could put hostages at risk, suggesting instead that a fragmented chain of command could open up new opportunities. did.
“There was no way we could reach an agreement with Sinwar at all. But now that he's gone, it's much more likely,” he said.
When asked about Hamas's political leadership, particularly its presence in Qatar, the Israeli representative stood firm, saying that “even a Jacuzzi in Qatar” is safe for such a leader. I warned them there was no place.
However, he expressed skepticism about Qatar's ability to influence the situation on the ground, given Hamas' current state of turmoil. Asked whether the U.S. should pressure Hamas leaders in Qatar to demand the release of the hostages, the official said the military leadership in the Gaza Strip is in turmoil and there will be no immediate impact from external pressure. He expressed the view that there are almost no
“I don't think Qatar can influence the situation because there is no real leadership of Hamas at the moment,” he said.
The official said the current conflict is not just about land or politics, but represents what he called a “clash of civilizations,” adding that Judeo-Christian values ”value life and liberty.” He emphasized that there is a conflict between the ideologies of extremists who advocate “destruction, death, and destruction.'' This includes groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and their backer Iran.
Mr. Shinwar's death, which occurred in the Rafah region, was said to be a pivotal moment in the region, where the United States had previously strongly opposed Israeli military action.
Citing comparisons with historical counterterrorism efforts, Israeli officials argued that terrorism can only be defeated through direct confrontation, similar to the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. By contrast, he criticized how the United States has handled conflicts like Afghanistan, where the Taliban eventually regained control after the U.S. withdrawal.
Those who opposed entry into Rafah, demanded an end to the war, and proposed an agreement with Sinwar to withdraw from the Philadelphia Corridor, now find themselves defeated and have a way to be completely annihilated. It has become. Terrorist organizations like Hamas will not surrender any more than the Western nations surrendered in World War II. Unfortunately, since then, the West seems to have lost its way, leading to many long-running wars. The most recent example is Afghanistan, where the Taliban eventually regained control along with billions in military assets, including Black Hawks and Humvees. [left behind by the Biden-Harris administration]. That is not the way to defeat terrorism or terrorist organizations. What we're seeing now in Gaza and Lebanon is how to fight terrorism.
The conversation also turned to Iran's role in the conflict, with the official claiming that Israel faces direct attack from Iranian missiles and saying that the real cause of regional instability is Iran's influence over its proxies. suggested.
“We all remember that for the Ayatollah regime, the 'big devil' is America and the 'lesser devil' is Israel. This was their slogan For decades,” he said. “But Iran is also a mutual enemy and a threat to the entire region. Moderate countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan all face the same danger. In fact, Iran recently Great efforts are being made to destabilize it.”
“The fight against Iran is therefore not just Israel's responsibility, but also a concern for the entire region and for the United States,” he added, noting that Israel's fight is consistent with broader global efforts against terrorism.
While the United States remains an important ally, the official suggested that Israel is prepared to act independently if necessary, especially in response to Iranian aggression.
“While we hope to confront this threat together with the United States, we can and will respond alone if necessary.”
“For now, we need to be patient and see how things develop,” he concluded. “As we have promised, there will be a serious response to Iranian attacks against us.”
Mr. Shinwar, a senior Hamas official, played a key role in organizing attacks against Israel. His death is a major blow to Hamas as Israel continues its military operation to dismantle the terrorist group's infrastructure. Hamas has lost many commanders in recent Israeli operations.
On Thursday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: declared Hamas terrorists who freed Israeli hostages will be saved, but those who seek to harm them will be hunted down and eliminated.
He stressed that the war in Gaza will end once the hostages are released and Hamas terrorists lay down their weapons.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently maintained that peace can be achieved if Hamas releases the hostages and surrenders, but his direct proposals to those holding hostages are particularly problematic in the absence of Shinwar's leadership. The case showed a major change in approach.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @Joshua Klein.
