Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, Feb. 10, 2025
“Hamas is upping its rhetoric. It expects to get some kind of concession, but it may have overplayed its hand.”
Hamas has been wrestling with what to do in the next stage of the deal, even as it claimed late Monday night that it won’t even fulfill the first stage of the deal.
The terrorist group is continuing to try to decide – internally – if it has the upper hand. It clearly tried to show that it was victorious in Gaza. It has been mocking Israel, mocking the IDF units that fought in Gaza, and mocking the claims of Israeli politicians of “total victory.”
Hamas sent a delegation to Tehran over the weekend to discuss with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei what to do next. Hamas is clearly considering different options. One is to destroy the deal during the first phase, which would likely lead to a new round of fighting and could see the Netzarim Corridor again split Gaza City from central Gaza.
Hamas openly said Israel has violated the deal, citing delays in returning displaced Palestinians from the south to the north, and when they do cross, they are in danger of bullets, as well as a delay in aid….SOURCE