Hamas Isn’t Acting like a Defeated Force, Which Puts the Entire Gaza Ceasefire at Risk

Hamas Seems Determined to Show That It Controls Events on the Ground

Hamas has slow-rolled the release of the 28 slain hostages. By Sunday, it had handed over only 12, six days after the end of the 72-hour window to give up all 28 bodies. Above: Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades during the handover of Israeli prisoners to the Red Cross; Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025.

Hamas has slow-rolled the release of the 28 slain hostages. By Sunday, it had handed over only 12, six days after the end of the 72-hour window to give up all 28 bodies. Above: Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades during the handover of Israeli prisoners to the Red Cross; Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025.

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Standing in front of an adoring crowd at the Knesset last week, US President Trump told Israel’s leaders that “you’ve won” in Gaza.

“What a victory it’s been,” he said in a speech that was maundering even for the famously loquacious president.

Speaking before Trump — hours after the 20 remaining living hostages were released by Hamas — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was only slightly less triumphant, boasting that Trump’s plan “ends the war by achieving all our objectives.”

“All of the prime minister’s objectives have now been achieved,” his spokeswoman had said three days earlier, as the ceasefire came into effect.

There is one problem, however.

No one seems to have informed Hamas that it has been defeated.

Published originally on October 19, 2025.

Read the full article at the Times of Israel.

Lazar Berman is the diplomatic correspondent at the Times of Israel, where he also covers Christian Affairs. He holds an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University and taught at Salahuddin University in Iraqi Kurdistan. Berman is a reserve captain in the IDF’s Commando Brigade and served in a Bedouin unit during his active service.
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