Prof. Kobi Michael : This is a high price, but it is not the highest. The highest price Israel may pay is allowing Hamas to remain a sovereign power in Gaza. The ramifications of Hamas’s continued sovereignty extend to the West Bank, Iran, and the broader resistance axis in the region. This cost is greater than the release of convicted murderers from Hamas and Fatah.
Hamas will not give up its strategic control of Gaza. Even if a civil administration is introduced, it would be a façade. Hamas will retain its weapons and military capacities, following the Hezbollah model in Lebanon. Their goal is clear: to replace Fatah and dominate the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Without control over Gaza, Hamas cannot achieve this end state.
The interview took place on Channel I24, on January 25, 2025.