Islam Times - Sinwar’s Ultimatum: Queen and King on the verge of Checkmate

Islam Times - Hamas' ultimatum against the Zionist regime, coupled with Sinwar's message highlighting the resistance's capabilities, and Tel Aviv's reluctance to launch a ground attack in Rafah, will amplify internal criticisms of the Netanyahu government, attributing it as the primary cause of this crisis.

Despite international efforts to cease the conflicts in Gaza, signs indicate that negotiations between Hamas and the Zionist regime have come to a standstill just before the onset of Ramadan.

While Benjamin Netanyahu's government, the Israeli Prime Minister, endeavors to pressure Hamas with new terms and exploit this situation, Hamas leaders resist the adversary's actions.

Regarding this, Hamas officials declared on Sunday a deadline for negotiations regarding prisoner exchanges and stated their terms for releasing captives. They emphasized that they will not yield to the demands imposed by the United States and Israel in indirect negotiations.

An informed source within Hamas informed The New Arab, "The resistance and Hamas will not disclose any details or information about the prisoners they hold unless significant compensation is provided, aimed at alleviating the suffering of Gaza residents and enforcing a comprehensive ceasefire." Hamas has outlined specific demands that the occupiers must meet to release their captives and safeguard those who are still alive. This source stressed, "The beginning of Ramadan marks the negotiation deadline agreed upon by the resistance groups."

According to Arab sources, the Netanyahu government has informed Egypt and Qatar that further negotiations on prisoner releases won't proceed until Hamas furnishes a list of living prisoners and provides its stance on the Palestinian prisoners' list. Israel estimates that the resistance in Gaza holds 134 prisoners, among whom 31 have died, and six are American citizens.

Simultaneously, alongside Hamas's deadline for negotiations with the Zionist regime until Ramadan, Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas's Gaza office, also communicated with leaders of the movement in Qatar.

The Wall Street Journal, citing Arab sources, reported on Sunday: "In a message directed to Hamas leaders in Qatar, there is an assurance not to worry, as Israelis are exactly where we want them to be." The message also affirmed that Hamas maintains significant military capabilities. Sinwar's message implies that Rafah won't be a leisure spot for Zionist soldiers’ post-siege, and the Al-Qassam Brigades are fully prepared, demonstrating the resistance's readiness for any Gaza scenario and its resilience against enemy threats.

According to informed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Sinwar is strategizing to lure the Zionists into an operation in Rafah, anticipating ultimate victory.

The collapse of Netanyahu's equations

In recent weeks, Zionist authorities have been warning Hamas leaders that failure to release their prisoners by Ramadan would prompt a ground attack on Rafah. However, the situation has shifted, with resistance groups now issuing ultimatums to the occupying forces.

The Zionists claimed that Hamas had suffered significant losses in military infrastructure and personnel. They believed that an attack on Rafah, home to 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, would tilt the war in their favor. However, it appears their calculations have backfired.

Hamas's ultimatum underscores that time is not on Israel's side, urging a swift return to the negotiating table and the signing of a ceasefire agreement.

Resistance leaders recognize that conditions in the occupied territories are unfavorable to the Netanyahu government. Protests by prisoner families and criticism from opposition figures have placed right-wing extremists in challenging positions. Hebrew media reports also suggest that hundreds of soldiers and officers in the regime's army are disobeying orders and unwilling to return to Gaza.

Polls indicate that the majority of Zionists hold Netanyahu accountable for the Gaza crisis, which has weakened his popularity and strengthened his political rivals. Consequently, Hamas, distrustful of the right-wing government's assurances, seeks to turn Zionists against Netanyahu by imposing ultimatums for prisoner exchanges and ending the conflict. Hamas has warned that the poor conditions in Gaza, including shortages of food and medical supplies, have severely affected the physical health of Zionist prisoners. Therefore, if these prisoners are harmed, opposition against the government will escalate.

The Zionist government, conditional on Hamas disclosing prisoner names and the Palestinian captive list, aimed to gather detailed information about Zionist captives to assess their value as bargaining chips for resistance groups. However, Hamas countered Netanyahu's strategy by withholding prisoner names and instead setting a deadline, thereby trapping the enemy between forfeiting peace opportunities and ensuring prisoner survival.

Meanwhile, Sinwar's statement and the resistance's ultimatum to assist negotiations and political delegations reflect their refusal to yield to military threats and uphold their principles. The resistance demonstrates that despite the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the pursuit of war cessation and aid, it refuses to sign a ceasefire agreement at any cost.

Global Consensus Against Tel Aviv

Hamas's ultimatum coincides with the onset of Ramadan, a period historically marked by significant developments in the occupied territories. Each year, Zionists escalate security measures in anticipation of this month. However, with the ongoing Gaza war, Zionists now face heightened fears of the conflict spreading to the West Bank, potentially triggering a third uprising.

There's a perception that Hamas aims to leverage Ramadan's significance to draw attention to Gaza's plight, urging Arab leaders, who have remained silent in the face of the five-month occupation atrocities, to act. Recent clashes between Western nations, notably the United States, and Tel Aviv officials over a Gaza ceasefire underscore the challenging international landscape for Zionists. Hamas may exploit this opportunity to rally support for resistance movements and increase global pressure against the Zionist regime.

Al-Qassam Brigades at the peak of power

Sinwar's message underscores the enduring resilience of the resistance, asserting that it hasn't merely weakened but can persevere in combatting the occupying enemy over an extended period. The recent lethal strikes by Al-Qassam against Zionist soldiers serve as a recent reminder that the resistance possesses the requisite means to strike back, a point validated even by recent affirmations from US intelligence services.

Presently, the Palestinian resistance remains unified, with its primary defensive and military infrastructure remaining intact, notwithstanding the humanitarian crisis that exerts pressure on the resistance beyond military concerns. The revelation that the Zionist army has only unearthed 20% of Hamas tunnels, coupled with the regime's admission of the impossibility of their destruction, speaks volumes about the escalating strength of the resistance groups in terms of resilience for sustained conflict. Consequently, Israel faces mounting costs for prolonged engagement with them.

From another perspective, Sinwar's message can also be interpreted as a demonstration of strength in defiance of Israel. Zionist authorities have persistently claimed to be closing in on Sinwar's whereabouts in Gaza, suggesting imminent capture, or insinuated that due to setbacks faced by Hamas in Gaza, leaders of the movement are considering his removal. However, Sinwar's cautionary message under current circumstances signals that this commander of resistance is at the pinnacle of his authority. Not only is there no discord among the ranks of resistance fighters, but Sinwar, as in the past, retains firm control over the conduct of warfare.

Consequently, Sinwar's message and the resistance's retaliatory strike dispel the false notions held by Netanyahu and his allies regarding the ramifications of a ground assault on Rafah. As the resistance forces lie in wait, a fate reminiscent of the confrontations in the Al-Zaytoun and Shujaiya areas awaits the occupying soldiers in Rafah and other regions.