The Israeli cabinet has just voted to affirm a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The question can be asked, "Is this a good deal?" Well, it certainly is for Hamas. It guarantees their continued existence and makes them media heroes.
From a Jihadi perspective, this is a not an agreement at all, but a hudna, a temporary truce until the Muslim umma (community) can rearm and regain their military strength.
Is it a good deal for Israel? Of course not. It is terrible. But it may be the best option we have right now. We need to trust PM Netanyahu and the cabinet to weigh all the pros and cons, and to make the right decision.
The idea of Hamas claiming victory is bizarre and detached from reality. Gaza has been destroyed; the people are living in rubble; and the Hamas military infrastructure has been wiped out. They want to rejoice over that? Let it be.
What are the reasons for agreeing to the cease-fire from Israel's view? Here are some factors:
Hostages: We do want the hostages to come back. We have not been able to rescue them by a commando raid. Our people's hearts are broken. Now at least some of the hostages will return home. Many others are already dead. Those left in Gaza are in mortal danger.
Troops Regrouping: Our troops are exhausted and need to regroup. Many Messianic families (including ours) have children right in the middle of the fighting. The type of guerilla warfare going on there now is very dangerous and doesn’t produce real victory. A large number were killed or injured this week.
Wider/Longer War: We are in a new stage of the war. There is a possibility of a wider group of partners, including the Trump administration and some moderate Arab nations. A more inclusive strategy is being developed for the whole area. This conflict will go on for years ahead of us.
Deployment Priorities: Gaza is not the most critical arena right now. Hamas presence in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) is more dangerous. The Houthi terrorists in Yemen must be stopped. And there is an opportunity for a major offensive against Iran.
Lebanon Victory: Amazingly, in Lebanon, what no one could have dreamed of a couple of months ago: Hezbollah has been defeated and a Christian government taken control. Its new president Joseph Aoun has promised to take away all of Hezbollah's remaining weapons.
Syrian Change: In Syria, a new Sunni ISIS-type leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa has taken over. The Assad regime had been supported by Russia and Iran. It seems that Russia has been weakened by the war with Ukraine, and Iran weakened by the war with Israel. This led to the sudden change.
Turkey's Influence: Al-Sharaa's militia is supported by Turkey, which has thus regained a new level of power in the area. Erdogan's dream is to reestablish the Ottoman empire and conquer all Israel, including the Temple Mount. We must be prepared to defend the Syrian border now. The IDF has taken control of a narrow but very strategic buffer zone along that border.
Iran Plan: There may be a plan to attack Iran's nuclear bomb facilities. No one can say for sure. The Ayatollah regime has been weakened, and the opposition within Iran is growing stronger every day.
Abraham Accords: Both Netanyahu and Trump would like to renew and enlarge the Abraham Accords. This could lead to a period of peace and prosperity for the whole area, particularly if Saudi Arabia joins in.
Proportionality: Where is the world screaming "proportionality" now? Israel is receiving back 33 innocent hostages, while releasing 1000 murderous terrorists. A hypocritical "double standard" is always used against Israel.
