With His Back to the Wall: Hamas Understands That Survival Depends on Giving Up Weapons | Brig. Gen. (Res.) Hanan Gefen
Brig. Gen. (Res.) Hanan Gefen analyzes the meeting between Kushner and Witkoff with the Hamas leadership, pointing to a shift in the organization's mindset: an understanding that survival depends on giving up weapons and submitting to American dictates. He calls for continued military pressure, intelligence surveillance of civilian control mechanisms, and continued elimination of participants in the October 7 massacre.
In an opinion piece, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Hanan Gefen analyzes the meeting between Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff with a delegation of Hamas leadership, presenting it as an indicator of a shift in the organization's mindset. According to him, Kushner laid down a tough equation reflecting the Trump plan: the US opposes the expulsion of Gaza residents but sets complete disarmament as a precondition before any political move. The message to Hamas was unequivocal: there will be no political integration as long as the organization holds weapons. Gefen argues that Hamas's agreement to the dictates indicates a deep process of mindset change, and the organization is beginning to internalize its dependence on the US. He notes that the request to stop targeted killings is a distress signal from a leadership that has lost its balance. Gefen calls for continued military pressure, updating intelligence collection targets, and maintaining an independent and eternal elimination channel against participants in the October 7 massacre, which is not subject to negotiation.