Qatar secured better terms for Hamas in case you think they're not involved

Let's confront the grim reality of the Middle East’s latest diplomatic farce, as laid bare by Israeli media on Sunday. Qatar, that glittering mirage of moderation, has been caught red-handed sabotaging the hostage and ceasefire talks, scheming to wring better terms for Hamas. 

Senior Israeli officials, cited by Yisrael Hayom, warn that if no deal emerges in the coming days, Israel will tighten the screws in Gaza. No surprise there—patience is not a virtue when dealing with those who play such cynical games.

The officials are blunt: Qatar’s meddling in the ceasefire talks has been a wrecking ball. They argue, with some justification, that Egypt alone would be a cleaner conduit. Without Doha’s oily fingerprints, Hamas might already have buckled under the combined weight of IDF operations, a choked flow of humanitarian aid, and the diplomatic arm-twisting of Egypt and Mahmoud Abbas. 

Instead, as Ynet reports, Qatar leaned on Hamas to spurn Egypt’s proposal, dangling the promise of a sweeter deal down the line. “There may be a better proposal for Hamas later on,” they whispered, like a devil on the shoulder.

The hostage talks, predictably, are stuck in quicksand. Yet Ynet offers a rare shaft of clarity: military pressure has worked. Hamas, it seems, can be brought to heel, and a partial hostage release might already have been secured were it not for the diplomatic dithering. But here’s where the plot thickens and the bile rises. 

The negotiating team led by Ron Dermer has been, at best, ineffectual—at worst, a liability. A source close to the talks told Ynet that Dermer’s efforts range “between borderline and negative.” Israel, it appears, has not been pushing for a solution but stumbling through one.

And then, the kicker, the betrayal that stinks of treachery. Ynet reveals that associates of Benjamin Netanyahu, those who’ve pocketed Qatari cash, have been advancing interests that “endangered the national security of Israel.” These turncoats ran a smear campaign against Egypt, poisoning a vital relationship for no discernible reason other than to serve their paymasters in Doha. It is a scandal that demands answers, not excuses.

This is the Middle East’s tragedy in microcosm: a stage of bad actors, double-dealing, and squandered chances. Qatar’s duplicity, Hamas’s intransigence, and Israel’s own internal failures converge to keep hostages in chains and peace a distant dream. 

One wonders how long this grim pantomime can endure before the curtain falls.

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IAF conducts largest airstrike in Syria since January

Israel recently launched its biggest airstrike in Syria since January 8th of this year. 

From Monday night into early Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked dozens of military targets tied to Syria’s new leader, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The IDF hit radar stations, air defense systems, weapons storage sites, and military bases in southern Syria. They said these targets belonged to the new government and were a danger to Israel.

The IDF explained, "the presence of these systems in southern Syria poses a threat to Israel and to IDF operations. These targets were struck to eliminate future threats." This was the largest Israeli military operation in Syria in a while, aimed at stopping the new Syrian government from growing stronger.

Syrian news reported that the strikes hit military posts near Damascus, including the towns of Sa’sa and Qatana, as well as old bases in the Daraa region and the 90th Brigade in Quneitra. More attacks happened near Homs and by the Lebanese border. At least 41 airstrikes were counted just around Damascus.

Ron Ben-Yishai, a security expert from Ynet, said a recent attack by al-Sharaa’s forces on Alawite cities in western Syria made Israel see the new government as a growing problem. Israel worries not just about jihadist groups in Syria but also about the country becoming unstable, which could let Turkey increase its military power there.

A big concern for Israel is that groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad might use Syria to attack Israeli towns in the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee. Forces loyal to al-Sharaa have freed senior terrorists from these groups, who were jailed by the old leader, Bashar Assad, to stop them from targeting Israel. Now, there’s fear these terrorists are planning new attacks. Another worry is that Turkey might start arming and training jihadist fighters who support al-Sharaa.

To deal with these risks, Israel is trying to control what happens in southern Syria so the new government can’t get too strong near its border. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have said they won’t let regime-backed fighters or armed Sunni jihadists get close to the Syrian Golan. Many empty Syrian military bases in the area still have weapons, which could end up with dangerous groups.

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Meanwhile, al-Sharaa is working to solidify his power. On Monday night, he made a deal with the leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to bring Kurdish fighters into Syria’s government and army. This came after a meeting with SDF leaders, who are supported by the United States.

The deal happened because the Kurds were left out of last month’s "National Dialogue Conference," which was meant to plan Syria’s future. Al-Sharaa’s office said the agreement shows "the unity of Syrian territory and the rejection of its division." The SDF promised to help Syria fight leftover Assad forces and other threats. This deal ends any chance of the Kurds creating their own country in Syria, since they agreed to keep Syria whole.

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Hezbollah launchers destroyed after drones fell in south Lebanon

photo credit: OFER ZIDON/FLASH90

Three Lebanese paramedics were killed and two others wounded in an Israeli attack while they were putting out fires in Faroun, according to Lebanon's health ministry report on Saturday. They claimed "Israeli forces targeted a team from the Lebanese Civil Defense as they responded to fires sparked by recent Israeli airstrikes," specifying that the strike hit a fire truck.

It condemned the attack as a "blatant strike" on an official Lebanese state apparatus, marking the second such attack on an emergency team in less than 12 hours.

But their report doesn't tell the real story.

IDF fighter jets destroyed rocket launchers of Hezbollah, Lebanon's Iran-sponsored terrorist organization. The launchers were used to fire rockets toward the area of Safed, the IDF stated.

The rockets were launched from the Einta area in southern Lebanon, according to the IDF. In retaliation, the military targeted Hezbollah positions in Odaisseh, Naqoura, and Tayr Harfa, all situated in southern Lebanon. 

This report came after two Hezbollah suicide drones, which were intended to be launched toward Israel, fell in the village of Ain Ebel in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Ynet reported, citing Lebanese military sources.

So when the IAF destroyed the launchers, there were fires and when the terrorists came to put them out, they were put out--it's called war and Israel didn't start it.

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