Andrew L. Urban
As I write, it’s early Sunday evening in Sydney, even earlier in New York and Sunday morning time for coffee in Jerusalem. In a few hours, it will be the deadline for Hamas to make good on their agreement to release the Israeli hostage as required by the Donald Trump “deal” they have been offered. Or else.
They said today they will. I bet you they won’t. I want to publish this opinion before the deadline not to be smart but to suggest that Hamas does not act rationally and not even Donald Trump has quite understood that. The hostages are the lifeline of Hamas operatives. It’s their only defence mechanism.
At some point before or after that Sunday night deadline, Hamas will come up with a delaying tactic. What then? Will Israel bombard Gaza to blast the remaining Hamas foot soldiers out of existence?
I hope I’m wrong but Trump better be ready with Plan B.