Unrealistic hyperbole

The Palestinian resistance made the right decision this week by freezing the prisoner exchange after Israel effectively suspended the ceasefire agreement for failing, after more than a week, to show up for the second phase of negotiations. This move underscored the lack of Israeli commitments and highlighted the need for international guarantees for any new agreements. By refusing to proceed under bad faith conditions, the Palestinian resistance demonstrated strategic patience and resilience, ensuring that Israeli bullying would not dictate new terms for the ceasefire roadmap.

Rather than threatening the victim, Trump should pressure Netanyahu to comply with the terms of the ceasefire agreement – including allowing the entry of heavy machinery to start clearing the destruction caused by the American made bombs, opening the border for the delivery of tents and temporary shelters for those who lost their homes, and facilitating humanitarian aid – Trump has instead doubled down on his belligerent stance.

Trump’s ultimatum for the release of all Israeli captives, without any reference to Palestinian hostages held in Israeli jails, is a glaring example of how Israel-first agenda advocates exploit his lack of nuanced understanding of contemporary intricacies. By presenting a complex geopolitical issue as a simple, time-bound demand, they capitalize on his tendency toward blunt rhetoric. This approach not only oversimplifies the issues at hand but also risks dragging the US as a party to the conflict with the broader consequences for regional stability.

Moreover, Trump should understand that after 15 months of genocide, Israel failed to secure the release of Israeli captives without agreeing first to end its onslaught on Gaza, and release of Palestinian hostages held in Israeli dungeons. Israel realized, a little too late, that its continued aggression will only prolong the captivity and or cause more death to Israeli prisoners as a result of its indiscriminate bombing. In the end, Israel was forced to accept terms that it had previously rejected, demonstrating that brute force alone could not achieve its objectives.

Where Israel had failed after inflicting hell on the people of Gaza for over a year, Trump’s threats of “hell” would unlikely intimidate the Resistance. Just as Israel’s military machine was unable to break the will of a defiant people, Trump’s threats will fall on deaf ears. The Palestinian people, having endured decades of occupation and Jewish apartheid, would not be intimidated by Trump’s bluff. Resistance in Palestine has survived against overwhelming odds, and Trump’s attempts to dictate new terms will meet the same fate as Israel’s 76 years old failed policies.

Excerpted: ‘Trump’s Hyperbolic Rhetoric: Not an Out of the Box Thinking, But Out of Touch with Reality’. Courtesy: Counterpunch.org