By John Q. Hosedrinker Hamas expressed its approval of the joint statement from the UK and 25 countries advocating for an immediate end to the Gaza war. The group highlighted the statement’s acknowledgment of the starvation policy by the Israeli occupation, which violates international humanitarian law, and the killing of Palestinian civilians at aid distribution points. Hamas urged the signatory nations to transform the statement into concrete actions, including pressuring for the cessation of hostilities and the immediate facilitation of humanitarian aid. They consider the statement as recognition of the violations committed by the Israeli government.
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Hamas welcomes the joint statement by 25 countries, a development that’s definitely drawing some strong reactions. You can almost feel the collective eye-roll echoing around the world, especially when you consider the context. This is a group, Hamas, that initiated a brutal attack, holding hostages and continuing to stir the pot while calling for an end to the conflict. It’s hard to see anything other than a cynical play here.
The core of the issue, as so many people point out, is the hostages. The continued captivity of those individuals, including two Americans, is a moral outrage and should be the immediate focus. Calls for ceasefires and humanitarian aid ring hollow when the fundamental issue of the hostages’ freedom remains unaddressed. It’s like trying to build a house without a foundation – the whole thing is going to crumble.
The joint statement’s emphasis on humanitarian aid, and its condemnation of the starvation policy pursued by the Israeli occupation, is something that Hamas has, unsurprisingly, praised. The fact that Hamas is applauding a statement by Western politicians is a clear indication of how this statement plays into their strategy, and that it is hardly a plan that prioritizes an end to the conflict and humanitarian aid, but will allow Hamas to regroup and regain control.
When you boil it all down, there are two supremely practical steps that could end this war instantly. First, release all the hostages. Second, and this is crucial, remove Hamas from power. It’s that simple. Everything else is just noise, a distraction from the core of the problem. Why the UN didn’t put Gaza under international administration long ago is a question many people are asking.
Instead of unified, unrelenting pressure on Hamas to surrender, Western leaders have opted for a softer approach, which is exactly why Hamas’s is praising the statement. This doesn’t seem like a path towards a peaceful resolution. It’s a tactic that delays the inevitable and allows Hamas to continue its destructive activities, all while the Gazan people suffer.
The lack of direct, forceful action against Hamas is particularly frustrating. Many feel that if the 25 countries had been applying pressure on Hamas from the start, the war would be over by now. But of course, it’s easier to blame Israel and pressure the only democracy in the region.
Ultimately, there’s a clear disconnect. Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for the current crisis, is now welcoming a statement they view as favorable. The only thing that matters to ending the war and saving lives is releasing the hostages and dismantling Hamas.