Hamas has once again succeeded in mocking Israel, racking its nerves, and reaping gains in the cognitive realm. Hamas’ superiority in the cognitive war and its ability to leverage situations from a position of weakness and defeat allow it to delay the inevitable and consolidate its expanding support among the Palestinian public.
Not only did Hamas cruelly and sarcastically violate the commitment not to separate families and release children without their mothers, but in its false and cynical fashion, it accused Israel of violating the terms of the agreement by stopping humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip and operating UAVs in the southern Gaza Strip. It then stopped the process of releasing the second group of hostages, even though Israel fulfilled its part in the deal. Hamas, which is in dire straits that threaten its military and governmental capabilities – and consequently faces an existential threat – has succeeded, from the depths of its plight, in manipulating an entire country. Israel's official spokespersons stuttered and hesitated, and apart from a comprehensive statement regarding the Israeli demand from Hamas to complete the move by midnight, nothing significant was said.
The Egyptians, on the other hand, who are guarantors of the deal, rushed to the Rafah crossing, where, while presenting an unequivocal ultimatum to Hamas (it can be assumed that they threatened to abandon Hamas and close the Rafah crossing), forced it to take the necessary steps and complete the second exchange.
The release of the Palestinian terrorists was greeted with jubilation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, adorned with Hamas symbols. Their release was interpreted as yet another Hamas victory and achievement. Their release deepens Hamas's grip on the West Bank and public support for the organization, in part at the expense of and the weakening of the Palestinian Authority.
At the end of the day, Hamas won another battle in the ongoing cognitive campaign. The move sends an important signal to its people and supporters regarding its steadfastness and adherence to the continuation of the struggle. Qatar once again scored points and managed to consolidate its status as the prince of regional diplomacy and whitewash its crimes, as a supporter of terrorism, in front of the US and the international community and successfully preserve the most important interest from its point of view – ensuring the survival of Hamas as sovereign in Gaza. The Red Cross, which betrayed its commitment regarding the some 200 additional hostages held by Hamas, also scored PR points at the Rafah crossing. Meantime, Israel continues to showcase its weakness in the cognitive campaign and the war against Hamas and leave the orchestration of the event and the deal in the hands of the organization. All this is the complete inverse of the impressive achievements of the IDF and the fact that Israel retain means of ultimate leverage, which it chose not to use – another significant military blow to Hamas, or at least a convincing signal regarding this capability.
There is no question of the need to free the hostages, even at the price of a deal, which delays the continuation of the military move – the very military move that is necessary for the realization of the goals of the war as defined by the State of Israel. Israel's strength is also derived from its moral base, its absolute commitment to the value of life, and the responsibility of the state to return its hostages. But this strength is interpreted as weakness by Hamas and its ilk, and it is exploited in a cynical and effective manner. The Israeli challenge lies in reducing Hamas's scope of action and influence in the cognitive war, and, mindful of its potential leverage, in acquiring the ability to speak Hamas's language with determination, even at the cost of possible international criticism. Even when the need to release the hostages is clear, it is unfathomable that Hamas sets the terms, decide when they have been violated, and act as if in a position of power. Israel must be much more significant in setting the terms and unequivocal and determined in its response to such violations by Hamas, or else the price tag will be even greater.
Hamas has once again succeeded in mocking Israel, racking its nerves, and reaping gains in the cognitive realm. Hamas’ superiority in the cognitive war and its ability to leverage situations from a position of weakness and defeat allow it to delay the inevitable and consolidate its expanding support among the Palestinian public.
Not only did Hamas cruelly and sarcastically violate the commitment not to separate families and release children without their mothers, but in its false and cynical fashion, it accused Israel of violating the terms of the agreement by stopping humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip and operating UAVs in the southern Gaza Strip. It then stopped the process of releasing the second group of hostages, even though Israel fulfilled its part in the deal. Hamas, which is in dire straits that threaten its military and governmental capabilities – and consequently faces an existential threat – has succeeded, from the depths of its plight, in manipulating an entire country. Israel's official spokespersons stuttered and hesitated, and apart from a comprehensive statement regarding the Israeli demand from Hamas to complete the move by midnight, nothing significant was said.
The Egyptians, on the other hand, who are guarantors of the deal, rushed to the Rafah crossing, where, while presenting an unequivocal ultimatum to Hamas (it can be assumed that they threatened to abandon Hamas and close the Rafah crossing), forced it to take the necessary steps and complete the second exchange.
The release of the Palestinian terrorists was greeted with jubilation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, adorned with Hamas symbols. Their release was interpreted as yet another Hamas victory and achievement. Their release deepens Hamas's grip on the West Bank and public support for the organization, in part at the expense of and the weakening of the Palestinian Authority.
At the end of the day, Hamas won another battle in the ongoing cognitive campaign. The move sends an important signal to its people and supporters regarding its steadfastness and adherence to the continuation of the struggle. Qatar once again scored points and managed to consolidate its status as the prince of regional diplomacy and whitewash its crimes, as a supporter of terrorism, in front of the US and the international community and successfully preserve the most important interest from its point of view – ensuring the survival of Hamas as sovereign in Gaza. The Red Cross, which betrayed its commitment regarding the some 200 additional hostages held by Hamas, also scored PR points at the Rafah crossing. Meantime, Israel continues to showcase its weakness in the cognitive campaign and the war against Hamas and leave the orchestration of the event and the deal in the hands of the organization. All this is the complete inverse of the impressive achievements of the IDF and the fact that Israel retain means of ultimate leverage, which it chose not to use – another significant military blow to Hamas, or at least a convincing signal regarding this capability.
There is no question of the need to free the hostages, even at the price of a deal, which delays the continuation of the military move – the very military move that is necessary for the realization of the goals of the war as defined by the State of Israel. Israel's strength is also derived from its moral base, its absolute commitment to the value of life, and the responsibility of the state to return its hostages. But this strength is interpreted as weakness by Hamas and its ilk, and it is exploited in a cynical and effective manner. The Israeli challenge lies in reducing Hamas's scope of action and influence in the cognitive war, and, mindful of its potential leverage, in acquiring the ability to speak Hamas's language with determination, even at the cost of possible international criticism. Even when the need to release the hostages is clear, it is unfathomable that Hamas sets the terms, decide when they have been violated, and act as if in a position of power. Israel must be much more significant in setting the terms and unequivocal and determined in its response to such violations by Hamas, or else the price tag will be even greater.