IDF general sees Trump’s threat as ‘big change’ in securing ceasefire after Hamas rejects same deal in May
IDF Brig. Gene. Amir Avivi says “two things” have changed about s Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas after fifteen months of conflict in the Middle East.
“This deal has been on the table since May last year and Hamas was totally against it. Why? There was no real pressure on Hamas,” Avivi told “Your world” on Wednesday. “Israel wanted to stop part of the humanitarian aid, especially part of the gasoline, but the administration did not allow us to do so. So Israel has no major influence on them.”
“What’s changed are two things,” Avivi told Fox News. “First, Israel has defeated Hezbollah and Hezbollah can no longer support Hamas. Also, Syria has fallen. Iran is weaker. But the big change is the threat of President Trump.”
“President Trump once threatened them, if they don’t release the hostages, there will be hell… I think they understand that if they don’t get a deal now, the chances of them getting a good deal are going to be very, very low, if at all, and so have made their own assessment, and they tend to make a deal, thinking they’re going to maximize what they can get now, rather than waiting to see what ‘hell’ means,” Avivi said.
IDF forces are seen operating in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip. (IDF Spokesperson’s Office)
On Wednesday, President Biden’s White House National Security Adviser John Kirby identified new Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff as a key figure in brokering the deal.
President-elect Donald Trump warned Hamas on January 7 that “all hell would break loose” if the hostages were not returned by his inauguration.
TRUMP REINFORCES ‘ALL HELL WILL BREAK OUT’ IF THE HOSTAGES ARE NOT RETURNED BY THE INAUGURATION
The agreement is scheduled to take effect on January 19, the day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Avivi expressed uncertainty about whether the deal between the two nations would hold, warning that Hamas could try to pull “various tricks and try to trick Israel in one way or another.”
It is “just the beginning” and we will have to “wait and see”, Avivi stressed.
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