Hamas attacks Israel

[jon-nyc]

I wonder what strategic purpose that announcement serves.

[Mik]

Motivation.

[jon-nyc]

I was thinking it was more motivated by domestic politics. There must be a faction that is worried that, by delaying so much, he's getting 'soft' and beginning to worry about outside voices.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in Hamas attacks Israel:

by delaying so much

WSJ is saying that the delay is at the White House's request - so that the US can position assets to protect troops elsewhere.

[Copper]

@George-K said in Hamas attacks Israel:

to protect troops elsewhere

US troops?

[jon-nyc]

That's as of today. A couple days ago it was 'White House requests delay for negotiations over hostages and supplies'. Before that there was delay but no stated reason. Ever since 10/10 or so various reports said it was 'imminent'.

Obviously I have no idea what's going on, what's realistic and not, etc. But neither does the average Israeli citizen, Hence my thought that there must be some wondering if he's getting soft.

[Jolly]

It's the carrier groups, I think. One is tasked with making sure the Iranians are good lads. The other is going to keep an eye on Hezbollah. That's around 130 planes total on the carriers and who knows how many missiles on the other ships

[Axtremus]

@jon-nyc said in Hamas attacks Israel:

I wonder what strategic purpose that announcement serves.

https://nodebb.the-new-coffee-room.club/post/245061 :man-shrugging:

[jon-nyc]

224

[Jolly]

Sadly, expendable. Time to go wreck Hamas. And I would do it while putting as few IDF at risk as possible.

[jon-nyc]

[89th]

I see the US has started bombing Iranian-back sites in Syria in retaliation/defense of the dozen attacks against US bases recently. Gonna head to bed soon, probably not WW3 until China enters the chat.

[Renauda]

@89th

Syria is one of Putin’s sandboxes.

[George K]

Thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1717601858695393550.html

Russia hosted a Hamas delegation today

Here is what we know about the meeting

The meeting has likely been planned since October 7

Once it was clear that at least 6 of the hostages were Russian citizens, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called for a meeting with Hamas in Qatar.

Vladimir Putin's comments warning of the need to stop the Gaza War and Russia's overall position were "highly valued" by the Hamas delegation

But Dmitry Peskov was clear to distance Putin from the meeting, he said it was a Russian Foreign Ministry track project.

Mousa Abu Marzouk led the delegation

Marzouk faced criminal charges in the US and while he has superficially discussed negotiations with Israel, he sees a Lebanon or Syria-style truce as desirable

A "hudna" that will reheat. Similar to founder Sheik Yassin's views.

So while Marzouk was the deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau from 1997-2014 before current leader Ismail Haniyeh took his mantle, he is by not much more moderate than the Hamas mainstream

Russia's meeting is not really about peace in Gaza.

Israel has urged Russia to expel Hamas, so this will sour ties further

But Marzouk engaged with Bogdanov in Qatar, Iranian officials recently and now Russia again, the meeting complements Russia-Iran dialogue on Gaza.

Qatar remains the primary diplomatic venue for hostage releases and Israel has even been publicly forced to acknowledge Qatar's role

But Russia is trying to play a secondary role, at least in liberating its own citizens and others (some reports highlight non-Russians).

[George K]

Brave Sir Robin...

Link to video

[89th]

The reporter is then immediately beheaded.

[Renauda]

@George-K

I saw this on the BBC last night.

Hoisted by his own petard.

[George K]

[Jolly]

Care?

Neither should the West.

[Horace]

Whenever those tunnels are mentioned, I imagine how many people died digging them. Dirty Jobs should have done an episode about Hamas tunnel diggers.