Israel’s Ceasefire: A Troubling and Hazardous Pact with the Devil

Just hours after a potential cease-fire agreement was reported between Israel and Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya, leader of the terrorist group, proclaimed victory, asserting that the massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, would “always be a source of pride for our people.”

Addressing the audience from the safety of Qatar, Hayya showed no signs of remorse for the catastrophic events he played a role in bringing to his own community, vowing that another Oct. 7 would soon “drive the occupation from our lands and from Jerusalem at the earliest opportunity.”

We’ll see if that holds true.

President-elect Donald Trump remarked that the cease-fire agreement is “epic.” It is not.

At best, it represents a painful, and hopefully temporary, concession to religious extremists that may save some hostages’ lives.

If finalized, the deal will reportedly include a six-week cease-fire that involves a gradual withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from the Gaza Strip — though not from the Philadelphi Corridor, which acts as a gateway between Gaza and Egypt for Iranian armaments.

In return, the terrorist organization promises to release 33 hostages on “humanitarian” grounds, implying that some may be alive, though there are no guarantees. Israel will release 30 terrorists for every kidnapped civilian.

Hamas will still retain 65 hostages, including American citizens. Many, if not most, are likely dead.

The cease-fire itself is unlikely to hold significant meaning in the long term.

Hamas has no regard for civilian casualties in Gaza. In fact, it welcomes them: Why else would it place munitions and operational hubs under schools and hospitals?

Former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been quoted telling his associates that creating thousands of martyrs is the most effective way to manipulate the gullible Western establishment.

Palestinians do not see a pause in fighting as a time for peace or security but rather as an opportunity for regrouping. After all, there was a cease-fire in effect on October 6, 2023.

So, why now?

It’s almost certain that the upcoming Trump administration instilled fear in Hamas.

Not long ago, the incoming president threatened there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages weren’t released by his inauguration on January 20.

Hamas’s leadership seemed to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was about to be given free rein.

Some reports indicate that Trump also pressured Netanyahu to accept the deal.

Perhaps. However, to be fair, Israel has exchanged terrorists for hostages, whether alive or deceased, for decades.

It’s easy to assert, “Never negotiate with terrorists.” In reality, moral decisions are often complex in the moment.

President Biden, who has often delayed Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas and Hezbollah, claimed the new deal would bring a “permanent end to the war.”

Well, al-Hayya disagrees. History provides a different perspective.

The Israeli electorate, which no longer seems willing to accept Iranian-proxy terrorist entities on its borders, generally disagrees as well.

One hopes that after hostages are secured, the IDF re-invades after six weeks to dismantle the remnants of Hamas — or Islamic Jihad, or whatever the next incarnation of the terrorist group may be — and continues to do so until the Palestinians in Gaza finally face reality. There are no other options.

Many Israelis and supporters of the Jewish state are furious about the arrangement.

They argue that these types of deals encourage more hostage-taking, which is accurate, and they assert that giving back Gaza renders the loss of life meaningless.

We must remember that Netanyahu achieved significant successes following the substantial security failure of October 7.

Israel largely crippled Hamas, eliminating thousands of its militants and decapitating its leadership, including Sinwar himself.

Hezbollah, the theocratic militia that has kept Lebanon in chaos for decades, is also reeling. Operation Grim Beeper significantly reduced collateral damage and resulted in thousands of Hezbollah militants being killed or injured.

The success on the Northern Front contributed to the downfall of the genocidal Iranian ally Bashar Assad, who is now in exile in Russia.

Iran, which spent vast amounts of resources building up proxy forces throughout the Middle East, finds itself more powerless than it has been in recent memory.

It is understandable, of course, why Israel would choose to entertain such a deal. Reflect on, if you can, the anguish following 9/11 in the United States.

The collective pain and the suffering of the families exerted tremendous political pressure to recover the innocent.

Trump, a staunch ally of Israel during his first term, secures a political victory even before his inauguration.

However, there are costs and risks associated with allowing Hamas the chance to regroup.

The fundamental question is whether this deal endangers more lives in the future.

Not if Israel takes appropriate action and completes the mission.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.