Transcription
I assume based on the messaging and the tone that we've been hearing from Qataris, from Turks, from the Egyptians, and from Hamas itself that there will be issues with the murdered hostages, the bodies that are supposed to be returned. Hamas claims that they don't have all of them in their possession. And I think the first fork in the road and the first dilemma for Israel and the US will be, okay, Hamas is claiming that they don't have all the bodies. Now, what what do we do and what will the price be?
What do you think's going to be with this new deal that's been brokered between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the United States? Take a look at this clip over here with Jonathan Kenrikus, the former IDF spokesperson. Now, while there's a lot of things to be optimistic about and the potential growth that this deal could have, there's also some concerns and hiccups that could be potentially there as well. And I think in this clip, Jonathan Kenriquez goes through some of those things that we need to be focused on to make sure that they're carried out properly. So, let's watch this clip together and then talk about it. But first, hit that subscribe button over there in the corner. We'd love to stay in touch. Check this out.
>> When we talk about the terms of this deal, everything is the ball is starting to get rolling, but there's still some major questions that remain. As far as you, if you could pinpoint one of the biggest obstacles that remain in actually implementing this deal, what would you say?
Oh, it'll be a long list because this deal, if we're blunt and frank about it, is a deal that more or less favors Israeli security interests. Whether it's about getting our hostages back or the long-term view in terms of the Gaza Strip, disarming Hamas, taking power over Gaza away from them, and then really changing the situation in Gaza, the famous and ambiguous de-radicalizing the Gaza Strip, which if that is infused with purpose, that'll be a tough one to implement as well. So, there's definitely a lot of things.
First things first, will Hamas hand over all of the hostages live and then the murdered ones? I assume based on the messaging and the tone that we've been hearing from Qataris, from Turks, from the Egyptians, and from Hamas itself that there will be issues with the murdered hostages, the bodies that are supposed to be returned. Hamas claims that they don't have all of them in their possession. And I think the first fork in the road and the first dilemma for Israel and the US will be, okay, Hamas is claiming that they don't have all the bodies. Now, what what do we do and what will the price be? Will that mean a snap back into fighting or will it mean something else? That's the first one.
Second big one which I think is really meaningful is how exactly will anybody get Hamas to disarm? They've already said and insinuated on Arabic media that well the weapon is part of the exist the resistance and that is the right of the people and a lot of other Hamas propaganda and they're they look as if they're trying to create more wiggle room when it comes to disarmament. So that that I think will be the the the second big deal. And then of course there's always the option that something will happen on the ground that Hamas will attack Israeli troops that there will be some major tactical event that Hamas will use whether it's Hamas or some other factions Islamic Jihad or some other organization that wants to derail the deal and are not happy with the details. That could also happen. But uh I think first things first, we'll focus on 20 hostages getting back, live ones hopefully. And then I think we should all be, you know, curb our enthusiasm as it as as the saying goes and to be prepared for a long challenging road ahead. This isn't going to, you know, end quickly. This isn't really about peace in the Middle East. It's about a ceasefire that may translate itself into a lasting ceasefire and a better security situation in Gaza.
>> I want to come back here in studio quickly, Jonathan, because when we talk about the issue of disarmament inside Gaza, that's not only the full issue. It's also making sure that Hamas not only disarms but doesn't rearm as they had done through the Egyptian border with Rafa. Who's going to make sure that Egypt actually carries through on this promise to make sure that Hamas doesn't rearm? because it said it in the past and that's still what happened.
Yeah. I mean the current situation in Gaza and the two years of fighting and many years before that of Hamas rule, a lot of it is because Egypt allowed Hamas to get armed. And I'll say something that I rarely say. It's also because Israel allowed Egypt to allow that to happen. Israel could have been tougher, should have been tougher, and turned a blind eye to the very same generals, not them in person, but we're watching video footage of the Egyptian army. Lots of Egyptian generals got pretty rich out of running weapons through Sinai and allowing Hamas to get weapons from Iran and from other places. And we kind of turned a blind eye to it.
Egypt is undoubtedly the most important country when it comes to the future of Gaza. The US is very important, but at the end of the day, Egypt is closest, Egypt is Arabic, Egypt is Muslim, and Egypt used to govern Gaza for many many centuries, and it was always an outcast of Egyptian control. So, we're we're it's it's a Egypt is playing a smart game here. On one on one side, they could have prevented about a year and a half a year and nine months of suffering by simply opening the Rafa gate and allowing Gazans to flee. That would have pulled the rug underneath the feet of Hamas and it would have ended the war much much faster. They didn't because the turmoil and the war and the suffering in Gaza serves Egyptian interests. It provides Egypt with a seat at the table of the big boys. And this is exactly where President Fattah el-Sisi is now and enjoying that limelight. And Egypt is back as an important country, a mediator in the world. And the fact that Palestinians are suffering is a tool that the Egyptians are using. Israel knows that, the US knows that, everybody knows it, but we're still playing along in that game. And the day after in Gaza, disarmament, de-radicalization hinges very much on how strong how strongly motivated the Egyptians will be to actually allow and let that happen. If they won't be motivated, I think the chances of Israel doing it by force are limited and for sure Europeans, Americans will not be able to do it. But it hinges very much on Egypt.
>> Jonathan, we have a minute left. I just want your thoughts. the the real important and this is a very important update to be anticipated but I think I suppose this has already been covered and agreed upon between the Israeli team and the American team and I think that what the Israeli government will be voting on is the agreements made with the Americans which are based on what we've been able to assess and what of course they have been able to access assess that Hamas will indeed obstruct and issue problems with this and that'll be the first hurdle I'm sure that there will be many on the Israeli side who will be eager to pounce and to use that as an opportunity. And uh and for for this weekend, I hope that we I I we should be realistic in hoping that we can get live hostages back. Uh that looks to be the best achievement that we can wait for so far. And then piece by piece,
>> piece by piece, that's all we can ask for. Lieutenant Colonel and reserves Jonathan Korriquez, thank you for
>> that's exactly right. I think cautious optimism is the way forward. Uh as long as the two objectives that Israel set out to do at the beginning of the war, the return of the hostages and the disarmament and the removal of Hamas from power in Gaza, those are the primary focus where our attention needs to be. Now, the the first the first dose of seeing if this agreement is going to stick is going to come when it uh in the next few days where the hostages are are meant to be released. Uh if there is some sort of hiccup, if they don't release all the hostages, if some of them, what what we're going to we're going to see along the way how this actually plays out. But like everything else in in a big plan, we have to take things one step at a time. And our first priority, our first goal needs to be in the next few days to make sure that all the hostages are returned.
There's a lot that's packed into this deal. There are a lot of good things, a lot of a lot of things to be optimistic and hopeful about. Um, there are a lot of there are shortcomings as well, but there there's a good there this is as good a deal probably as could be made. If we're going the if we're going the route of diplomacy, this is probably uh as good as it's going to get. And and so the main objective is first things first hostages being released and then the disarmment and how that actually comes comes into play and what that looks like. Hopefully it will stick. Hopefully it will carry through. Hopefully Hamas will be pressured by all of the Middle Eastern countries that are involved in this uh to actually adhere to the process that was set in place. And so we will just be monitoring it as it all as it all comes together. We'll be talking about it. We'll be watching it with you and uh and commenting on it. And if you like this content overall, hit that subscribe button over there in the corner. We'd love to stay in touch throughout the whole process. Take care.
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