Three Senior U.S. Officials Propose to Hamas: Aid in Exchange for Abstaining from Violence

Three American officials involved in the Israeli-Palestinian political process proposed to Hamas that in exchange for renouncing 'terror and violence', they would receive extensive American aid for the people of Gaza. However, Hamas initially rejected this proposal, while Israeli Defense Minister warned on Friday that his country might undertake 'a larger military operation than in 2014 against Gaza'. The three U.S. officials related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Jared Kushner, senior advisor to Donald Trump, Jason Greenblatt, special representative of the U.S. President for international negotiations, and David Friedman, U.S. ambassador to Israel, presented the proposal to Hamas on Thursday, July 19, through a joint article published in the Washington Post. The U.S. recognizes Hamas as a terrorist group, thus the direct proposal and addressing Hamas by official representatives of the Washington government is considered unprecedented. In their article, the three U.S. representatives called on Hamas to refrain from 'terror', return soldiers and Israelis they hold captive or their bodies, and hand over control of Gaza's border crossings to the Palestinian Authority. Kushner, Greenblatt, and Friedman outlined a framework for improving the lives of Gaza residents, stating that if Hamas allows it, the lives of Palestinians in this strip can be improved very quickly. They wrote that the world is moving forward, and the international community is waiting for steps from Gaza officials to facilitate significant aid to the region. They emphasized that many entities with substantial resources are ready to assist the people of Gaza, but without real change accompanied by a sustainable security guarantee, progress cannot be made. Kushner, Greenblatt, and Friedman added that if Hamas shows genuine intentions for peace; not just promises in words but with practical actions, then real opportunities will be before us. Meanwhile, the three U.S. officials wrote in the Washington Post that Hamas leadership has taken the people of Gaza hostage; this problem must be recognized and addressed, otherwise, we will witness another round of devastation. Close associates of Donald Trump in this writing also emphasized that seventy years after the establishment of the state of Israel, it would be wise for Hamas to accept Israel's existence as a continuing reality, especially since this reality has been accepted in almost all of the Middle East. According to Kushner, Greenblatt, and Friedman, Hamas has been in a losing war for decades with moral bankruptcy, which the Palestinian nation has paid the price for. The three U.S. officials in their joint note pointed fingers at the international community as well, writing that 'countries talk more and condemn rather than confront reality.' Senior American representatives reminded that the Washington government has provided more financial aid to Palestinians than any other country or nation in the world, but Gaza has long been mired in this crisis and that crisis and emergency aid requests, without addressing the root of the problem; 'the root of the problem is that Hamas leadership has taken the people of Gaza hostage.' According to regional media, Hamas on Friday, July 19, in its initial reaction to the article by the three American figures accused them of 'repeating Israeli positions.' Hamas referred to the U.S. as an 'oppressive force' attacking Hamas and reducing its officials to the level of spokespeople for the Israeli occupiers. At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Hamas is leading Israel into a large and painful operation that may be 'larger than the 2014 operation.' According to Ynet, Lieberman, who visited the Israeli settlement of Sderot, seven kilometers from Gaza, said, 'We are trying to act thoughtfully and responsibly, but Hamas leaders may lead us to a new operation.' Lieberman's reference was to the launching of incendiary kites and balloons by Palestinians from Gaza towards Israeli skies, which has led to the burning of vast fields belonging to Israelis, and the Israeli government and army have termed it a new 'terror' and warned Hamas leaders of the consequences. Gaza has witnessed bloody and deadly protests at its borders with Israel in recent months, with Israeli responses resulting in over 140 deaths and around 16,000 injuries. The violent protests have also led Israel to heavy airstrikes on Gaza in the past week, during which several Hamas militants were killed in the bombings of the organization's positions. Recently, Hamas has refrained from implementing reconciliation with its own Fatah movement, and the Palestinian Authority has imposed sanctions against Gaza in recent months, expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of Hamas rulers, while Egypt has also been regularly closing the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza to exert political pressure on Hamas leaders. This is while 53% of Gaza's population lives below the absolute poverty line, with at least 49% unemployment among Gaza's workforce, water shortages, and frequent power outages for long hours, creating the toughest conditions for about two million residents of Gaza.