There is no peaceful resolution; this has been ongoing since 1948. I personally blame it all on Arafat, who didn’t accept a peace deal back in 2000.
Here are the reasons and objectives of Hamas.
CORE OBJECTIVE OF HAMAS
End of Israeli Occupation (as they define it):
Hamas does not recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel and ultimately seeks the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state in all of historical Palestine, including present-day Israel
Resistance as Strategy:
Armed resistance is central to Hamas’s identity and narrative. They view ongoing conflict as a legitimate and necessary means of confronting what they call Israeli occupation.
Leverage Through Hostages:
Hostages are used as bargaining chips for:
°The release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
°Gaining international attention.
°Strengthening their negotiating position in ceasefire talks.
Historically, prisoner swaps have been one of the only tools Hamas has to exert pressure.
Internal Legitimacy and Power
Within Palestinian society, especially in Gaza, Hamas seeks to maintain its status as a defender of the Palestinian cause. Compromise or weakness could damage its image, especially in contrast to the Palestinian Authority, which many perceive as ineffective,
Why Keep Fighting Despite the Consequences?
°Ideological Commitment: Hamas is committed to armed struggle as long as Israel exists in its current form.
°Political Survival: Ceasing hostilities without tangible gains (like prisoner releases or an easing of the blockade) risks internal backlash.
°Distrust of Negotiations: Keeping hostages ensures Hamas remains in talks. If they release them without conditions, they lose leverage.
Why not release the Hostages?
°Strategic Leverage: Hostages are one of the only powerful tools Hamas has to pressure Israel and extract concessions.
°Fragmentation of Control: Not all hostages may be under direct Hamas command – some are held by other militant groups in Gaza.
°Negotiation Tactics: Keeping hostages ensures Hamas remains relevant in talks. If they release
Current Dynamics ( as of 2025)
°Multiple ceasfire proposals have been floated, but Hamas often holds out for more favorable terms.
°There is an internal split in priorities: some want to preserve Hamas’s future as a political entity; others are driven by the ideology od martyrdom.
°Regional actors (Iran, Qatar, Egypt) influence Hamas’s behavior and incentives.
In Summary
Hamas continues fighting and refuses to release hostages primarily to:
°Maintain leverage over Israel
°Pursue its long-term goal of resisting Israel.
°preserve its internal legitimacy and bargaining power.
However, this comes at a catastrophic cost to civilians – both Israeli and Palestinian – and continues to deepen the cycle of violence. For many observers, Hamas’s strategy appears tragically rigid, prioritizing ideology and power over immediate humanitarian concerns.
All that for a struggle that isn’t taking them any closer to their objective, while they are letting their people be slaughtered and starved by Israel!
Go figure!
Your Blogging friend Ulrich Koepf
