When will Hamas accept that Israel cannot return to pre-Oct. 7 reality?
Did Israel have any option other than to renew hostilities?
A temporary ceasefire had come to an end. Multiple rounds of negotiations in both Qatar and Egypt, with Israeli and American teams had taken place. Proposals were set forth by the US that Hamas refused.
Since coming into power, President Trump has made clear his aversion to war, going so far as to imply that someone like Putin desires peace, even though Putin himself has made no such claim. Trump’s team on Israel, led by Steven Witkoff, wanted a deal that would extend the ceasefire. Unfortunately, Hamas did not.
A ceasefire this long was a respite from the horrors of war. Such a respite that perhaps Hamas had lulled itself into thinking that the situation would return to business as usual, that is business as usual prior to Oct. 7, 2023. The rinse-and-repeat of stockpiling arms from Iran, launching them across Israel on civilian targets, Israel responding with heavy bombing leading to loss of life and property in Gaza, followed by a ceasefire, followed by stockpiling arms from Iran, launch them across Israel . . . Rinse and repeat. For Israel, Oct. 7, 2023 put an end to rinse and repeat.
Hamas continues to fail to realize that its Oct. 7, 2023 “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” as the terror group called it, changed the landscape forever and that Israel simply cannot return to the status quo. A country that does not defend its citizens cannot continue to exist.
With the invasion and brutal massacre of Israeli civilians, the brutality, including sexual violence against, among others, young people at a music festival, against toddlers and children, the hostage taking, Israel cannot return to the status quo.
When released hostages tell of the barbaric conditions in which they have been held — for well over a year! — and in which others continue to be held, Israel cannot return to a status quo that allows Hamas to rebuild and rearm.
But there is another option. And that option lies squarely with Hamas — and its supporters. As we have written more than once on this page, Hamas has the power to end this war right now. Hamas could surrender. Hamas could release the hostages.
It is — and always has been — in Hamas’ control.
Yet the world looks to Israel to end this war. It is Israel who will be focused on for “ending” the ceasefire. In fact, the ceasefire ended on February 28, 2025. And failed negotiations with Hamas put Israel on notice that Hamas had no intention of continuing the ceasefire if it meant serious concessions.
If Israel hadn’t reacted it would have been telling Hamas, “We’re OK with the quiet as long as you don’t bother us . . . ” Until the next rocket attack, the next massacre.
Rinse and repeat.
Israel had no other option. But Hamas does. Release the hostages. Surrender.
The choice is in Hamas’ hand — yet the world does not hold Hamas to task — just as it has not held Hamas to task for its murder, mayhem and destruction of Oct. 7, 2023, for its use of human shields, for its failure to build bomb shelters for its citizens.
Egypt, Qatar and Jordan all say they want to see Gaza rebuilt. Egypt, Qatar and Jordan all say they do not want Hamas in power. Egypt, Qatar and Jordan all say they condemn hostage taking.
If all of that is true, then it is long past time for those regional players to step up and force Hamas out of power. It is Hamas who continue to endanger and risk the lives of Gazan Palestinians.
If Hamas will not safeguard its constituency, it is up to others — the regional powers who say they care deeply for Gaza — to do so.
That is the other option. If regional actors do not want to see Israel renew hostilities, then they must remove Hamas from power.
© IJN 2025
