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Herb Keinon
Jerusalem Post, Mar. 18, 2025
“Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire, but instead chose refusal and war.”
Israel’s wave of a large-scale attacks on Hamas in Gaza on Monday night were neither a full-scale war nor a specific threat of a ground operation, but an action aimed at convincing Hamas to agree to the framework presented in recent days by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Jerusalem did not hide its intent to launch a broad wave of airstrikes on Gaza from the United States. However, “there was no need for a green light because Trump gave us the option to open the gates of hell,” an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post.
“Minister Ron Dermer updated senior members of the Trump administration that Israel would begin an aerial assault on Gaza to try to pressure Hamas to change its demands in the hostage deal,” the source said.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are stalled. While discussions are ongoing, nothing has progressed since Hamas insisted on the sole release of American-Israeli dual national Edan Alexander and the return of four murdered hostages in exchange for 50 additional days of ceasefire.
Therefore, Israel characterized Monday night’s attacks as a means to “increase pressure on Hamas to agree to the release of hostages.” … [To read the full article, click here]