Hamas Retakes Gaza, Says No to Signing Accord and to Disarming: Wherefore Art Thou, Phase Two and Nobel Honors?

I am not sure if the ground game in Gaza is being faithfully portrayed by U.S. media, but fortunately, I have access to BBC News and to France 24 in English. Those two channels have been showing Palestinians returning to their homes — if they’re still standing — amid the rubble of a two-year battle between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas, prior to hostilities, controlled Gaza politically and militarily — and now that Phase One of the Trump Peace Plan is unfolding, the terrorist group has reasserted its control. At the same time, it has said it will not participate in the signing of the accord’s initial agreement, nor will it disarm.

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If Hamas does not disarm, that pretty much puts the kibosh on Phase Two of the Trump Accord, whereby a new ruling coalition would take control and Hamas would scatter, arms laid down.

Meanwhile, both Israelis and Palestinians are celebrating the ceasefire currently in place, as Israel withdraws its offensive positions but still controls 53 percent of the Gaza strip.

Israelis are cheering the upcoming return of 20 living hostages and the remains of 28 others who did not survive in captivity. Palestinians are cheering a return to their neighborhoods, which may or may not still be standing — or standing mostly in rubble.

Monday is the fateful day that will show if Hamas is going to stick to its agreement to release the hostages. They’ve been known to renege on previous agreements — or to put up new, last-minute conditions.

We shall see.