For weeks, Hamas stalled negotiations in Doha, rejecting opportunities to release hostages and de-escalate the conflict.
It refused to release captives on March 1, March 8, and March 15, while simultaneously pretending to engage in good-faith discussions.

This pattern is familiar Hamas consistently:
1. seeks international sympathy [and been getting it including from Israel's 'allies']
2. through ceasefires it never intends to honor
3. while using the lull to strengthen its forces.

Reports indicate despite suffering significant losses since October 7 Hamas has managed to reconstitute a force of up to 25,000 fighters, even recruiting minors.

The notion of a “Ramadan ceasefire” was nothing more than a ploy. Hamas believed it could exploit the holy month to pause hostilities and reinforce its ranks, assuming that Israel would succumb to international pressure. It miscalculated.

Israel understands the cost of waiting; every delay:
1. emboldens the terrorist organization
2. and prolongs the suffering of the hostages it continues to hold.

Israel’s response –
targeted strikes on Hamas infrastructure – is a necessary step to ensure that Hamas does not use a ceasefire as a smokescreen for its next attack.

Hamas has no legitimacy to cry foul.
It was Hamas that provoked this latest round of violence, just as it did on October 7 when it launched its brutal attack on Israeli civilians.

Since then, the terror group:
1. has sought to dictate the terms of engagement,
2. weaponizing human shields
3. and international media narratives
4. while keeping the people of Gaza under its oppressive rule.