Hamas Wants A Deal

We learn that the terrorists still want to work things out even as they refuse to turn over the last remaining hostage body in a report from the World Israel News:

Hamas is pushing for a renewed round of indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel, seeking talks in Egypt or Qatar as it aims to move the Gaza agreement into its second phase, according to a report Tuesday in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

One issue of contention is the assassination of a high-ranking Hamas terrorist which they say is a blatant violation of the ceasefire:

The initiative comes despite continued frustration within the terror organization over what it describes as inconsistent US messaging surrounding the killing of Raad Saad, Hamas’ second-in-command in Gaza. Hamas sources said the group remains uncertain whether Washington had prior knowledge of the operation or whether US officials view it as a breach of the ceasefire, which has been in effect for roughly two months. According to the sources, Hamas does not accept American statements on the strike as an “exoneration” or legitimate justification, and believes the United States routinely provides Israel political cover by defending actions the group considers violations of the truce.

They can complain and I’m certain Israel had its reasons, but they need the US to help them:

Even so, Hamas leadership reportedly recognizes that Washington is the only actor capable of pressing Israel to advance implementation of the agreement.

Hamas wants to keep the talks indirect although they are staying in constant communications with the other mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. Those countries wouldn’t be involved in any new talks:

Hamas is now seeking to convene indirect talks that would include an Israeli delegation and the United States, with the stated aim of increasing pressure on Jerusalem from the Trump administration to advance its plan and “bring stability to the region.”

Without the living hostages and with all but one hostage remains left, Hamas has no leverage other than what the US provides:

The discussions are not limited to Hamas’ military status, the sources said. Other issues under review include reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, postwar governance arrangements and the possible role of a technocratic committee, reopening the Rafah crossing, a full lifting of the blockade, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the potential deployment of an international force.

It’s not a surprise that they don’t intend to discuss them leaving Gaza:

They emphasized that the departure of Hamas leadership from Gaza has not been raised and is not under consideration.

Hamas wants to think that there is no deadlock but not turning over the last hostage body when they clearly know where it’s at is a major roadblock. These terrorists are on shaky ground.

Why They Killed Him

We read in another report, this one from the Jewish News Syndicate, why Israel took Sa’ad out:

The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday killed “one of the last remaining veteran senior terrorists in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said in a joint statement. “Ra’ad Sa’ad was a leading figure in the leadership of Hamas’s military wing in recent months and was directly responsible for violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Hamas terrorist organization,” the statement continued. He was one of the architects of the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, invasion and massacre in the northwestern Negev, the IDF and Shin Bet added.

Israel justified the assassination this way:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that they instructed the security forces to kill Sa’ad following the activation of a Hamas explosive device that wounded two IDF reserve soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip earlier on Saturday. The Hamas commander was engaged in carrying out attacks against Israel, as well as rebuilding Hamas’s offensive capabilities, while “blatantly violating” the terms of the ceasefire, the Israeli leaders said.

Sa’ad was heavily involved in getting Hamas back to full strength during the ceasefire:

“Instead of advancing demilitarization, he was working to rearm for acts of terror. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel and harms IDF soldiers—his hand will be cut off in Gaza and anywhere else,” Netanyahu and Katz said.

If anyone wonders why he was killed, here is more:

His death “significantly degrades Hamas’s ability to reestablish its capabilities,” the IDF said.

Before the Swords of Iron war, he was identified as No. 4 in the Hamas “military” hierarchy after Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa and Yahya Sinwar. After Israel killed all three men, Israeli intelligence officials considered Sa’ad to be the No. 2 leader in the Al-Qassam Brigades, after Izz al-Din al-Haddad. The Israeli Air Force tried to kill Sa’ad in June 2024.

You see, while the IDF stopped their all-out attacks on Hamas and only defends itself, the terrorists are using the ceasefire to get ready for the next attack. Don’t be deceived, Hamas is hardly in agreement with the ceasefire, and this killing is justified on so many fronts. Instead of disarming they fully intend to build more weapons as long as they can until they’re stopped. Diplomacy won’t slow them down. Killing those in charge of the weapons will.