Article published in The Daily Telegraph, 20 January 2025. © Richard Kemp
Until yesterday the survivors of Hamas’s terror army were skulking inside what’s left of their tunnel network, hiding in civilian houses, mosques, schools and hospitals or embedding themselves into humanitarian areas on the coast.
They disguised themselves as civilians, sometimes dressed as women and journalists and never daring to openly carry weapons above ground. Today they are out on the streets of Gaza proudly wearing their green bandanas and combat uniforms while flaunting assault rifles and rocket launchers.
Even at the point of handover we have seen pictures of these newly courageous fighters closing in to intimidate and torment the first three women hostages to be released.
At the same time the ceasefire-emboldened terrorists are laughing in our faces, handing gift bags to the released women as well as ‘completion certificates’ to show they have spent well over a year in Hamas’s tunnels.
Since the cessation was agreed the terrorist leaders have been been renewing their vows to kill more Jews and launch repeated 7th October style massacres.
Meanwhile hordes of Gazan civilians have flooded into the streets, mostly healthy in appearance, well dressed and many visibly over-fed. A far cry from the picture Hamas, the UN, human rights groups and so much of the media have painted for the last 15 months: of disease and famine at the hands of the Israelis.
Despite claims of fuel and energy starvation in Gaza, cars now seem to be able to freely drive the people about and their ubiquitous smart phones are obviously well charged.
Like their Hamas leaders, these ‘innocent’ civilians have been screaming themselves hoarse with ‘Khaybar, Khaybar ya yahud’, an Arabic rallying cry calling for the slaughter of Jews.
Many Hamas leaders have been killed, including the most senior, and an estimated 20,000 plus fighters eliminated with their organized military structures dismantled.
Hamas have been trying to replace their dead terrorists with untrained and inexperienced volunteers from the population. Their capabilities will be boosted by the release of over 1,000 terrorist prisoners in the first stage of the deal alone, some of whom will be battle-hardened.
While they remain free from IDF attack, Hamas will be working overtime to regroup and rebuild their lost strength.
Any and all suitable construction materials and humanitarian supplies allowed into the Strip will be immediately re-purposed for military use rather than to alleviate the suffering of civilians whose houses have been destroyed as a result of Hamas’s war.
They will continue to operate the weapons manufacturing factories that have not been taken apart and do all they can to replenish weapons and ammunition from outside. That is why the IDF must retain its stranglehold on the border with Egypt as well as the blockade of the coastline.
Outside Gaza, Hamas and their sponsors and supporters will be aiming to bring international pressure to bear on Israel to prevent a resumption of hostilities, while holding on to as many hostages as they feel they need for longer term leverage.
In these circumstances the sooner Israel can return to the attack the better, reducing time and opportunity Hamas will have to increase the dangers they still present.
The fight will certainly have to be resumed. It is for Jerusalem to calibrate when and how that is done, balancing the maximum number of hostages that can be got out against the growing risks presented by the breathing space Hamas can be allowed.
Into that equation will also have to be factored wider strategic imperatives, not least a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear programme which now becomes a more realistic proposition with Donald Trump back in the White House.