January 1, Europe Pressures Israel, Risking Longer Conflict

President Trump was clear: “You’re rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don’t think they should be rewarded.” That’s some good common sense, but it doesn’t seem like Europe wants to listen.

The White House echoed those worries this week. Their press secretary set it straight, saying “He feels as though that’s rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages.” Leaders like Trump know you can’t give terror groups what they want and expect peace.

France and Britain were once world powers, but these days their leaders just lecture everyone while hiding beneath America’s protection. The so-called two-state solution has always sounded lovely in a speech, but after what Hamas did on October 7—slaughtering civilians, kidnapping hostages, launching rockets—there’s no reason to trust they want anything close to peace.

France’s Foreign Affairs boss even admitted the two-state idea is “in mortal danger,” but then turned around and blamed Israel for defending itself. According to him, “the indefinite prolongation of Israel’s military operations in Gaza…have long since ceased to have any military or political justification.” Instead of fighting the criminals behind the violence, these leaders want to pressure Israel to stand down.

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister piled in, saying peace is “under threat” because of the ongoing war, and threatening to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel gives in to European demands at the next UN meeting. It’s like rewarding the kid causing trouble in class because he complains loud enough.

Once again, it’s Americans who see what’s really going on. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that upping the pressure on Israel while offering handouts to Hamas is “so clumsy.” His words ring true: “If Hamas refuses to agree to a ceasefire, it guarantees a Palestinian state will be recognized by all these countries in September. So they’re not going to agree to a ceasefire.” The so-called peacemaking is just fueling Hamas to dig in deeper and stall any real talks.

All this grandstanding from Europe misses the real point. As experts put it, “Hamas will only compromise when it feels intense pressure and when it thinks that continued fighting would present an existential danger to the group.” Giving them political gifts now only shows that violence gets results.

Proof is in the pudding: after France’s announcement, Hamas immediately changed ceasefire terms and made new demands. With the world’s attention on European recognition, the terrorists just sat back and let Israel get all the blame while securing more leverage for themselves.

President Trump nailed it when he said, “I think they want to die. And it’s very bad. And it got to be to a point where you’re going to have to finish the job.”

Even after all this, Hamas was quick to praise both France and Britain, calling the steps “appreciated and welcomed,” and demanding “unconditional recognition” of a Palestinian state. What more proof do you need that Europe’s plan is just music to Hamas’ ears?

And the experts keep warning: “Rather than empowering moderate Palestinians, as the Europeans hope would happen, it would have the opposite effect… this action as a result of a war Hamas started would prove to the Palestinians that they can only achieve independence through violence, and Hamas will be crowned as the deliverer of Palestinian statehood.”

Wyatt Matters

Middle America stands for peace, law and order, and taking care of our own. When distant politicians play games with the lives of those fighting for their survival, the world gets less safe. We owe it to future generations to back common sense, not cave to those who only know violence. Real leadership means knowing when to say no—and standing strong with our allies, not our enemies.

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