As We Head into the weekend, here’s a brief insight into a pivotal moment in global politics. Israel’s decisive military victory over the Hamas terror organization, highlighted by the neutralization of its leader, marks a turning point for both Israel and the region. This development also raises hopes for the potential release of 101 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
This was Israel’s ‘We got him’ moment that mimicked the U.S. victory over Al-Qaeda when its chief bin Laden was eliminated in 2011.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY-AFTER-HAMAS IN GAZA. His televised message garnered three million views in less than 24 hours. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war “is not over yet,” though he acknowledged it was “difficult, and it exacts heavy prices from us.” He also directly addressed Hamas remnants: “To the Hamas terrorists I say: your leaders are fleeing, and they will be eliminated,” he said, also addressing the Palestinians in Gaza. “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. This is the beginning of the day after Hamas, and this is an opportunity for you, the residents of Gaza, to finally break free from its tyranny.”
KEY IMMEDIATE REACTIONS include a phone call by President Joe Biden to the Israeli Prime Minister to congratulate him and a White House statement where the President said, “This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world” and pledged to “remain in close contact in coming days.” Vice President Kamala Harris in a separate statement called it a measure of justice and relief: “… justice has been served, and the United States, Israel, and the entire world are better off as a result […] Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief.”
— Speaker Mike Johnson released a statement praising the Israeli military and expanded on his views on the U.S. approach to the war: “Justice has once again been served by the brave men and women of the Israeli military.”
— French President Macron tweeted: “This day is a turning point, as well as a military success for Israel. This opportunity must be seized so that all the hostages are freed and the war finally stopped.”
— Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallantposted an image of three Hamas and Hezbollah terror leaders crossed by an x mark. The post has been seen by more than three hundred and fifty thousand users in less than a day.
— With A Staggering Ten Million Views, the Israeli military IDF’s official X account simply tweeted the three words that capture the world’s biggest story this week: “Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar.”
PALESTINIAN REACTIONS. Hamas’s confusion was apparent in the two statements released after Sinwar’s elimination. The first one, by a low-level terror spokesman, shyly acknowledged what happened.
— Then, A Defiant Statement. By 8 AM EST today, Friday, Hamas deputy Khalil Al-Hayya released a video message eulogizing Sinwar, and defiantly vowing that Israeli hostages will not be freed without an end to the war. Al-Hayya glorified Sinwar as a Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim hero.
— Gazans Are Cautious after Sinwar’s death. They have endured 18 years of a ruthless rule, where Hamas executed Gazans who criticized its policies, and many went along with the terror group’s radicalization drive. Many remain hesitant to speak openly but the Arab media has reported that some Gazans are privately relieved after Sinwar’s death and hope this could lead to the end of the devastating war started by Sinwar and Iran.
TWO DEVELOPMENTS,JORDAN AND LEBANON:
— Jordan: Multiple militants crossed for a few meters from Jordan into Israel and opened fire at Israeli soldiers and were promptly neutralized, the Israelimilitary, the IDF, said in a statement. Both Jerusalem and Amman have a peace treaty and close security cooperation, and further details are awaited after the Jordanian army confirmed the infiltrators were not Jordanian soldiers and it is investigating the matter.
— Lebanon: This is interesting. A diplomatic crisis is brewing with Iran after the Lebanese president rebuked the Iranian parliament speaker and accused him of interference in Lebanon [see here, and here]. Lebanon has also sought explanation from the Iranian envoy in Beirut. Our take: this would not have been possible had Israel not crippled Hezbollah terror leadership. We explain how Israel’s actions have helped Lebanon in shedding Iranian control, in this report: Israel’s Action Creates Opportunity For Lebanon To Disarm Hezbollah.
A DEBATE ABOUT THE DAY-AFTER-HAMAS IN GAZA. Sinwar’s death opens the door to opportunities. We at the American Jewish Congress delved into this debate in our statement released yesterday: PRESS RELEASE: Sinwar, Killer of Israeli and Gazan Children, Eliminated. Check out how we addressed the question of why the war is likely not over with Sinwar’s demise, and why Israel deserves even stronger regional and international support to provide security to its citizens and help Palestinians and Arabs revive efforts for peace and economic integration.
