Illustrative image.
Hamas published on September 28 video footage showing a daring raid from last month that targeted an Israeli military post in southern Gaza. The footage came out as United States President Donald Trump teased a deal to end the Israeli war, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 66,000 Palestinians.
The raid targeted a post of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) located near the city of Khan Younis. It took place on August 20.
An IDF probe released at the time said that 14 fighters emerged from a tunnel south of Khan Younis and opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades while approaching the post. This was confirmed by the footage released by Hamas.
The probe also acknowledged that some of the fighters managed to breach the post, which was manned by troops from the IDF’s Kfir Brigade.
Ten of the fighters were killed by the troops and in airstrikes directed by the forces, the IDF said back then, adding that eight managed to flee back into the tunnel.
The raid left three Israeli troops wounded, including one seriously, according to the probe. Hamas claimed, however, that soldiers were killed.
The IDF is currently conducting a major offensive in Gaza City, in the north of the Strip, with three divisions involved. The offensive has already displaced more than half a million Palestinians who were taking shelter there. Many others were killed before they could flee the city, with estimates putting the number at over 400.
Despite the Israeli escalation, a deal to end the war altogether seems approaching amid signs of the U.S. pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time.
Right before Hamas released its footage, Trump declared “We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL.”
“FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!” he wrote in another all-cap post on Truth Social, clearly teasing progress towards a deal on Gaza.
Speaking later to the Axios news site and Channel 12 news, Trump revealed that talks on a deal to end the war are “at their final stages.”
“Everybody has come together to get a deal, but we still have to get it done,” Trump told Axios reporter Barak Ravid in a phone interview, adding: “The Arab countries were fantastic to work with on this, and Hamas is coming with them. [Hamas has] great respect for the Arab world.”
“The Arab world wants peace, Israel wants peace and Bibi wants peace,” Trump said, using Netanyahu’s nickname.
Trump added that his plan aims not only to end the Gaza war but also to open the door to wider regional peace. This may be a hint of a near security agreement between Israel and Syria.
“If we get this done, it will be a great day for Israel and for the Middle East,” he said. “It will be the first chance for real peace in the Middle East. But we have to get it done first.”
Speaking on Israel’s Channel 12, Ravid adds that Trump said he hopes to finalize an agreement during a September 29 meeting and announce it the same day or the next.
In a later phone interview with Reuters, Trump said that he’s received a “very good response” from both Israel and Arab leaders about the U.S. plan for an end to the war in Gaza.
“Everybody wants to make the deal,” Trump said.
Despite Trump’s optimistic remarks, Netanyahu appeared more cautious about a deal on Gaza in an interview with FOX News.
“We’re working on it,“ he told the network. “It’s not been finalized yet, but we’re working with President Trump’s team, actually, as we speak.”
Overall, Trump appears to be in a rush to broker a deal on Gaza. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is clearly trying to keep the war going. Hamas has not yet made any comment, but it is highly unlikely that the group will be able to take a stance against any agreement accepted by Arab countries.
Recent reports all indicate that any deal will include the release of all remaining hostages from Gaza, and the establishment of a new body to rule the Strip. Solutions for key issues like the arms of Hamas and the fate of the group’s fighters and leaders remain unclear.
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we know isis is in gaza hosted by israel. so they found 14 people to make films . while genocide by military and starvation on innocent families continues . israel has 7 other countries it is at war with . the un walk out on netanyahu was bad press. so hasbara needs more propaganda to call genocide war.