quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
The post also suggests he is 'one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip' and 'a key source of knowledge'. …”

At this point, aren't most of them either big-talking teenagers or, old men who were shamed into retirement by...big talking youngsters?

From Haaretz the oldest print paper in Israel.


U.S. Pushing for Deal in Gaza as Israeli Military Signals It's Time to End War

https://archive.ph/mxo6c#selection-291.0-291.78

Trump sees the end of the Iran campaign as a chance to reshape the region and is pressuring Israel and Hamas to reach a deal. Meanwhile, the IDF chief says the military is close to meeting its goals in the current operation. Ultimately, the next moves will be settled directly between Trump and Netanyahu

After ending his boasting about the success of the attack on the nuclear installation in Fordow and after ceasing to be insulted by the Iranian regime and to threaten it, Donald Trump returned to prophesying an imminent hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. "It's a terrible situation" in Gaza," the U.S. president said Friday. "I think it's close," he told reporters. "We think within the next week, we're going to get a cease-fire." Continuing, he said, "In theory, we're not involved in" what's happening in the Strip, "but we're involved. People are dying."

The only person who knows whether there is any substance to these statements is Trump himself, presumably. Ever since winning the presidential election in November, he has spoken often, with optimism, about the chances of reaching a deal. On one occasion, a few days before his inauguration in January, he managed to impose an agreement on the two sides. But in March, Israel violated the cease-fire with Hamas, and the deal collapsed; the negotiations have been deadlocked ever since.

Trump still holds the cards. If he exerts sufficient pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, in the wake of the achievements he helped the prime minister obtain over the past two weeks, there could be a breakthrough. It's doubtful anything will move without the president's direct involvement.

More at link

quote:

Haaretz

Left wing like most of the media.

It's a shame the only influence we have is with the side that shouldn't make concessions.

Hamas should be making the concessions. If Hamas lives to fight another day- They will fight another day more brutally than they did on October 7th.

Netanyahu’s White House visit to be moved up: 'PM wants a deal'

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1mtndlsle

Israel is considering moving up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to the White House, as the United States ramps up pressure on his government to agree to a deal that could secure the release of hostages and bring an end to the war in Gaza after nearly 21 months of fighting.

Israeli officials say Netanyahu may arrive in Washington as early as Sunday for a Monday meeting with President Donald Trump — their third since Trump returned to office in January. On Monday evening a U.S. official said Trump plans to host Netanyahu on Monday. While the schedule is not official, officials involved in the planning said the visit could be key to shaping the next phase of the war.

The discussions come as Israel’s security cabinet met for the second time in as many days to review the stalled negotiations and assess military options. Although the IDF reported significant progress in Gaza, including control over much of the Gaza Strip and the near-defeat of Hamas’ organized military brigades, the political echelon has yet to make final decisions on a potential deal.

A senior Israeli official told Saudi outlet Al-Hadath that these are “critical days” for negotiations. He said Trump and Netanyahu recently held another call in which the U.S. president urged the Israeli leader to prioritize a hostage deal over continued military operations in Gaza.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a key Netanyahu adviser and liaison to Washington, arrived in the U.S. this week for talks with senior officials, including Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff is expected to visit the region—potentially Cairo—if negotiations make meaningful progress.

During a visit to Shin Bet headquarters on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel had eliminated two major existential threats and was now entering a phase of new strategic opportunities. “First and foremost, to rescue the hostages,” he said. “We will also need to resolve the Gaza issue and defeat Hamas. I believe we will accomplish both.”

Although Israeli military officials believe Hamas has suffered devastating losses—including the death of roughly half its fighting force—political sources said no breakthrough had been achieved in the ongoing talks. One of the options on the table remains a renewed and expanded military campaign to increase pressure on the militant group.

Officials in Jerusalem believe that Israel’s recent military strikes against Iranian targets have weakened Hamas’s confidence in its main patron and could shift its calculations. “Hamas is watching closely,” a political source said. “We hope this will help bring about a deal, just as past blows to Hezbollah helped lead to hostage agreements.”

Trump announces Israel has agreed to 60-day ceasefire with Hamas

https://justthenews.com/govern..._campaign=newsletter

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Israeli officials have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in its war with Hamas, which will be presented to the terrorist organization by Qatar and Egypt.

The announcement comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House next week. Israel has also recently agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, after Israel and the United States bombed Iran's nuclear facilities.

Trump did not disclose the details of the ceasefire agreement, but said all parties involved will use the ceasefire to bring lasting peace to the region.

"My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza," Trump posted to Truth Social. "Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.

"The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal," he continued. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Trump seemed optimistic about the ceasefire earlier Tuesday, predicting that it would be reached sometime next week.

“We hope it’s going to happen,” Trump said. “And we’re looking forward to it happening sometime next week. We want to get our hostages out. We want to get the hostages out.”

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
Trump announces Israel has agreed to 60-day ceasefire with Hamas



Trump did not disclose the details of the ceasefire agreement, but said all parties involved will use the ceasefire to bring lasting peace to the region.

AHAHAHAHAAAA! That's all I have to say about that.

You get no argument from me...

Iran, and especially Hamas, will never come to peace with anyone who doesn't share their hatred of modern western cultures, under any circumstances of any kind, including annihilation. There isn't a real solution at a deeper level, only containment with enough cooperation between willing partners.

Trump is talking a deal with Iran, which I'm assuming would be a type of forced containment that Iran would be willing to live under short of getting more whoop-ass, and could only last as long as such policy remained after Trump is gone, and lasting cooperation with other middle east states demonstrating similar policy and actions.

Either that or some positive cultural changes that could take generations to come about, the latter which probably wouldn't happen all by themselves other things being equal.

Sort of like NK, China, and Russia. They can't really change in the short term, they can only be contained to a degree.

That's my unqualified guess. I'm not smart but I recognize evil and hate when it's on someone's sleeve, and combined with a little stupidity and stubbornness, you can't fix it without a very high price.

There just might be enough difference between the IRGC (& ruling mullahs) and the people of Iran that total elimination of the regime may result in a swing to democracy and freedom. It’s a long shot and hard to envision the regime collapsing since the people are disarmed, but if enough of their military defects, might be a possibility. Wouldn’t put a lot of money on it at this point, though. If that did happen, it could change the trajectory of the entire middle east!

Pound Iran into Oblivion. "It's the only way to be sure"

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
There just might be enough difference between the IRGC (& ruling mullahs) and the people of Iran that total elimination of the regime may result in a swing to democracy and freedom. It’s a long shot and hard to envision the regime collapsing since the people are disarmed, but if enough of their military defects, might be a possibility. Wouldn’t put a lot of money on it at this point, though. If that did happen, it could change the trajectory of the entire middle east!

It seems surprising no-one talks about it more openly. I suppose if it's possible some folks are working on it, have rejected it, or are in a holding pattern for one reason of the other.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
Pound Iran into Oblivion. "It's the only way to be sure"

It's too big, twice the size of Texas with a population of 92.5 million, half of which probably hate you, with a difficult geography for warfighting and occupation. And exactly who would want to do it and is capable of pulling it off. Then you have 92 million citizens who hate your guts. So what's the backup plan.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
Pound Iran into Oblivion. "It's the only way to be sure"

It's too big, twice the size of Texas with a population of 92.5 million, half of which probably hate you, with a difficult geography for warfighting and occupation. And exactly who would want to do it and is capable of pulling it off. Then you have 92 million citizens who hate your guts. So what's the backup plan.

Backup plan? Pound them into oblivion!
They declared war on us four decades ago. They have killed countless Americans over the years. Those weren't acts of war?
Yeah, lets do this again in ten years. Ahhh, appeasers.

I don't think anyone feels much differently, they certainly deserve it. It's just not practical and probably not truly solvable. But they certainly deserve it and few here would complain. Same goes for all sorts of horrible places, it's just not practical as a long term solution. If you compare the transformation of Germany and Japan after their defeat in WW2, my guess is the Iranian situation is a different sort of animal, since the story of hatred of the West spans generations and it not reversible by any practical measure. But what do I know. It will be interesting to see how that mess plays out for the next three years of Trump's term, and how Israel integrates their policy with the US or not.

Israel strikes Damascus, hitting Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters

https://justthenews.com/world/..._campaign=newsletter

Israel launched airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, hitting the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters.

The airstrikes hit hours after a drone strike on the building, The Associated Press reported. At least 13 people were wounded, according to Syrian state media. Another strike hit near the presidential palace outside the capital.

There have been clashes for days in the southern Syrian city of Sweida between the government and Druze armed groups. Israel has already launched dozens of strikes targeting Syrian government troops and convoys, which the country says is in support of Druze, a religious minority group.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said after the airstrike that the “painful blows have begun.”

The Syrian Defense Ministry had earlier blamed militias in the Druze-majority area of Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement they had reached Tuesday, resulting in return fire from Syrian army soldiers. The ministry said they were “adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes.”

Good, throw them to the Lions (IDF).