The Heat Is On Netanyahu

In a totally unexpected move after being restricted by the previous US administration over and over again Prime Minister Netanyahu is being told he can do whatever he needs to do as we read in a report from The Media Line:

Tensions are rising as a weekend deadline set by US President Donald Trump for the release of Israeli hostages approaches. President Trump shocked the world by demanding that Hamas release all remaining hostages it has held since October 7, 2023, warning that he would “let hell break out” if this is not done by noon on Saturday.

By making that bold deadline warning the PM can’t blame the US for holding him back and that is a new feeling for him:

The American leader also stunned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, putting him in a tricky position. Netanyahu is facing a crossroads in his relationship with Trump

One expert agrees with that assessment:

“Netanyahu is facing a crossroads in his relationship with Trump,” Shmuel Rosner, an expert on US-Israel relations and senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, told The Media Line. “Trump has essentially given Israel the license to do whatever it wants and has removed all of the restrictions that were placed on it by the previous administration.”

Trump has essentially given Israel the license to do whatever it wants and has removed all of the restrictions that were placed on it by the previous administration.

“Israel is now in the unusual position of having to decide for itself what it truly wants,” Rosner continued. “It can no longer point to American limitations as an excuse for not taking action, as has happened frequently in the past.”

Before Trump was elected, the PM could blame Joe Biden and his administration for stopping him from acting boldly. That ended with Trump coming back on the scene and now Israel has a golden opportunity, but a one that could determine Israel’s fate for decades to come:

Netanyahu now faces a major dilemma. He could follow through on President Trump’s ultimatum and resume full-scale military operations against Hamas, which have been largely paused since a phased ceasefire and prisoner-release deal was implemented a month ago. Alternatively, he could push to complete the existing agreement, which is scheduled to conclude on March 1. Under this deal, Hamas is expected to release a total of 33 Israeli hostages in increments. In exchange, Israel would free approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, allow Palestinian civilians to return to their homes in northern Gaza, and withdraw from most of the enclave.

Indications are that Netanyahu is allowing Hamas to resume the current deal.

Violations Of The Deal

Both sides are condemning the other of breaking the deal:

Both sides have accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire. President Trump’s criticism of the phased nature of the agreement, along with his call for the complete evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza, has further angered Hamas and added strain to the fragile truce.

Some sources believe Israel is letting Hamas off the hook, but as I’ve said we’ve been down this road before and the anonymous informants often are wrong:

Israeli media reported Thursday that Israeli officials sent signals to Hamas that if it released three hostages on Saturday, Israel would continue to abide by the ceasefire agreement. Hamas reportedly agreed to resume the deal, but Netanyahu’s office has denied these reports, calling them “unfounded, fake news.”

If these secret sources are right, it’s unknown how Trump will respond. What we do know is that Trump wants this war ended and has all but told Netanyahu to do what he needs to for that to happen:

The American president’s threat to “let hell break out” presents a double-edged sword for Netanyahu. The Israeli leader, who heads a coalition dominated by ultranationalist factions, has often cited White House constraints to justify his reluctance to implement far-right policies. Now, with those constraints removed, he must chart his own course.

Personally I won’t believe that Hamas will continue the deal or that Israel will go back to it until they publicly tell us that. Anonymous sources may make journalists happy with juicy revelations but when it comes to decisions as major as these, I want more than these unknown sources or vague comments. Hamas keeps saying they will release three more hostages and Israel is preparing for them just as before. But Netanyahu and his office are also saying they want more than three now, too. And Trump, who is more popular in Israel than Netanyahu, wants all of the hostages released now. We still have time for phone calls to be made between the two world powers and I suspect more surprises, not fewer between now and Noon on Saturday in Israel. Will this be business as usual? Trust me when I tell you that Hamas will violate this deal when they have exactly what they want from it. I think they wouldn’t have said they were pausing it on Monday if they didn’t want to use the time to get ready for something. I pray Israel will take the freedom Trump is giving them to end Hamas now. No one, especially the remaining hostages, has time for this. Never again means never again.