Could the 22-state Arab League be about to abandon Hamas? It's beginning to look that way. On Wednesday, we learned that the Arab League is calling on Hamas in Gaza to release all hostages, lay down their weapons, and surrender - a step Hamas could have taken months ago and saved everybody a lot of trouble.
A CNN (I know, I know) report has some more details:
Arab and Muslim states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have for the first time issued a joint call for Hamas to disarm and relinquish power in the Gaza Strip as part of efforts to end the war in the territory.
The 22-member Arab League, the entire European Union and another 17 countries backed a declaration signed at a United Nations conference co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday.
The meeting in New York aimed to address “the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two-State Solution,” and the declaration lays out what steps the signatories think should be taken next.
While this is an interesting move on the part of the Arab League, and while the advice they offer Hamas is good advice, not much will likely come of this admonition. Here's why.
First, Hamas has little reason to just surrender at this point. The remaining fighters know that, whatever fate they face, it's unlikely that amnesty will be their reward. These people - and I use the term "people" in the broadest possible sense - aren't soldiers of a vanquished nation; they aren't even ordinary criminals. They are part of a terrorist organization that commits mass murder of Jews, young, old, even infants, not to mention gang-rapes and seizing hostages, who were held in inhuman conditions in tunnels under Gaza. These people should not be subject to anything but trial by military tribunal. They likely know this.
Second, it's very likely Hamas has very little regard for what the Arab League thinks of them, one way or another - especially now that France and the United Kingdom seem suddenly and inexplicably willing to toss them a lifeline. That's indeed an alarming development, wherein two major European powers are willing to recognize a "Palestinian State," presumably Gaza, which is still in large part under the Hamas boot.
Read More: France Stabs America in the Back With Announcement, Hamas Immediately Takes Advantage
Starmer Joins Surrender Monkey Macron’s Hamas-Friendly Threat to Israel—Trump Says 'No Way'
Third and finally, Hamas isn't going to change its behavior because of an Arab League-promoted cease-fire. They have historically used peaceful intervals only to re-arm, re-train, recruit, and prepare for their next attack. It won't come in the same way as the October 7th, 2023, attacks; that would be too obvious. But they'll try something. Most of the rank-and-file Hamas fighters are not the sharpest knives in the drawer, but their leadership has shown itself to be canny enough.
It remains as I've been saying and writing since October 7th, 2023 - there will be no peace in Gaza until Hamas is no longer a factor. The Arab League is doing the right thing here, but it will probably be water off a duck's back.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
Help us continue to report on the administration’s peace through strength foreign policy and its successes. Join RedState and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.