Hamas started this war. Hamas has had every opportunity to surrender. It has had more than 670 days to release all the Israeli hostages. Yet Hamas has no intention of disarming and has tried to deceive the world by playing the victim. With European leaders hoodwinked into trying to appease the terror group, Israel will now assure Hamas’s final defeat by taking control of all of Gaza.
Changing the game rules
Pressure placed upon Hamas from the UK has only been in the form of token words. When Keir Starmer announced last week that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state if Israel agreed to a ceasefire and met other conditions, he did not place any conditions on Hamas laying down its weapons and releasing the hostages. Did he really think that Hamas would suddenly be motivated to release the hostages by making an ultimatum against Israel? Note Hamas’s response to the growing calls for a Palestinian state: firstly, the release of a shocking propaganda video showing two severely malnourished hostages as a mockery of the West’s naivety. Hamas also put out a statement that said they would only disarm once a State of Palestine is established with Jerusalem as its capital. Yes, Jerusalem. Just when Starmer and Macron thought they had understood Hamas’s game, the rules of submission to Hamas changed in a blink. For Hamas and their allies, it is and has always been about seizing control of Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people. You see, Hamas’s goal does not stop with Gaza; they want the complete destruction of the Jewish state.
Playing as the victim
The moral ineptitude and political weakness by the West have allowed Hamas to trick the world into viewing Israel as the aggressor and the Palestinians as victims. True, the Palestinians are victims of Hamas, but only because of Hamas’s bloodthirst for the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews. Weakness by politicians, complicity by the United Nations, and deceitful journalism have all contributed to Hamas’s gaming tactics. Nicely played, Hamas, but now your lifeline is depleting.
For example, photos of individual “starving children” have been identified as being children with serious underlying health conditions. This does not lessen the seriousness of their need, but it is disgusting to use their young lives as propaganda to demonise Israel. One such photo was of 5-year-old Osama al-Rakab who suffers from a serious genetic illness that is unrelated to the ongoing war. His image rightfully caused an emotional reaction, but his illness was exploited for Hamas propaganda. Osama has been in Italy since June, when Israel coordinated his evacuation from Gaza and transport to Italy via Ramon airport in southern Israel.
Another example was exposed by the German newspaper Bild this week. Their front cover shows a news photographer staging photos of Gazans holding empty pots, and not in line for food aid. Bild noted that one of the freelance photographers, who regularly posts anti-Israel content on social media, was employed by a Turkish news agency and regularly distributes staged images that are picked up worldwide and treated as credible.
It is one of many photo manipulations intended to replace the cruel images of October 7th. Hamas wants the world to see a civilian population suffering as a result of Israel’s military campaign.
Certainly, the humanitarian need in Gaza is essential. But the accusations against Israel are playing into Hamas’s hands. The United Nations reported this week that since the May resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, a total of 2,604 aid trucks have been collected by the UN. Of those, 2,309 (88%) did not reach their intended destinations inside the Strip, with Hamas (or in some cases civilian gangs) stealing supplies.
In contrast, the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was established to provide aid via an alternative that would keep goods out of Hamas’s hands. The distribution has been targeted by regular shootings by Palestinian terrorists, even though much of the media points the finger at Israel. It should come as no surprise: Hamas does not want Gazans fed. The GHF programme has delivered nearly 72 million meals (as of mid-July 2025). Yet Israel has been slammed with anger and condemnation by Western politicians, left-wing aid agencies, the UN and by journalists. Why? Israel’s successful food programme has taken control away from the UN and has cut off Hamas’s ability to steal aid, feed their terrorists, and sell the rest to civilians at inflated prices in order to fund their terror operations.
Foiling the Hamas game-plan
Time is now running out for Hamas. Not because of pressure from the UN or Starmer or Macron. Not because a viable ceasefire is on the table. But because Israel has decided that Hamas has no intention of disarming. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu on Thursday announced that Israel intends to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. Netanyahu told the press: “Our plan is not to occupy or annex Gaza. Our goal is to destroy Hamas and get our hostages back, and then hand over Gaza to a transitory government.”
“We will never hand [Gaza] over to the Palestinian Authority or Hamas. We will provide overall security. There will be a security perimeter provided by us,” the premier added. “We want to end the war very soon. It will be over speedily. If Hamas concedes and lays down their arms and frees hostages, it will be over tomorrow. Even Palestinians in Gaza are fighting Hamas,” the prime minister said.
Since Israel’s invasion of Gaza following October 7th, it currently holds control of 75% of the Strip. However, there are key areas, including Gaza City, where the Hamas terror group is believed to be holding hostages.
Over the next few weeks, we can expect the level of animosity towards Israel to increase. Anticipate more Hamas propaganda feeding the mainstream media. Expect manipulated figures and staged photos. Expect humanitarian criticisms of Israel. But also remember Israel’s goals.
For Israel, this is not a game. It is a fight for its survival; a fight for the release of the hostages, and a fight for the freedom of the people of Gaza from Hamas.
A game-changer
On Thursday, the Security Cabinet approved the Prime Minister’s proposal for defeating Hamas. The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones. PM Netanyahu told Fox: “I want the population to be in safe zones, to have food, water, sewage, electricity, medical help.”
The Security Cabinet, by majority vote, adopted the five principles for concluding the war:
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The disarming of Hamas.
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The return of all the hostages — the living and the deceased.
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The demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip.
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Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip.
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The establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, “that basically is willing to live in peace with Israel and give Gazans a different future.”
Western leaders must not hinder Israel from winning this war. Anyone who truly wants the war in Gaza to end must lend their support to Israel.
As for Hamas, it is game over.
