Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Richard D

(9,163 posts)
Fri Sep 6, 2024, 10:31 AM Sep 6

Hamas Negotiation Guidelines . . .

. . . found and revealed. The original article is in German. Some translated excerpts below and the link to the original:

https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/bild-exklusiv-zum-schaudern-das-plant-der-hamas-chef-mit-den-geiseln-66d98503c0fd674dd9f5d092

Excerpts and commentary from a newsletter from Israel:

For months, Israel has been unsuccessfully negotiating with the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas to end the war. The talks are stalled: Hamas refuses to release the Israeli hostages it took on Oct 7, including young people and the elderly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reluctant to relinquish control over a crucial supply corridor to Hamas, fearing the resurgence of the terror organization.

Now, a previously unknown document from Hamas' military intelligence reveals how the terrorists maneuver the international community, torment Israeli hostage families, and plan the rebuilding of their military infrastructure. The document, outlining Hamas’ negotiation strategy, was found on a computer believed to belong to the Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar. Dated the spring of 2024, it is exclusively available to BILD.

Hamas identifies several key factors to consider during negotiations. For example, it emphasizes maintaining the "capability of our forces" to act against Israel, exhausting the Israeli political and military mechanism, and "wearing down (Israel via)” international pressure on Israel.

Hamas does not intend for a swift end to the war that would benefit the people (civilians) of Gaza. On the contrary: "We must improve key aspects of the agreement, even if negotiations take longer."

Although Hamas acknowledges that "its military capabilities have weakened," it does not see a need for an immediate end to the fighting, despite the suffering of its population. The document does not mention the thousands of Palestinian civilians killed in the fighting even once.

Especially cunning is Hamas's exploitation of the hostages to improve its negotiating position. The document explicitly states: "Continue to apply psychological pressure on the families of the captives, both now and at the initial stage (of the ceasefire), to increase public pressure on the enemy’s government."

Hamas repeatedly releases videos of the hostages, who are forced to plead for their release and criticize their government. After the murder of six Israeli hostages, the terrorists released videos showing the captured Israelis. These are barbaric psychological tortures are intended to make the hostage families so desperate that they will do anything to free their loved ones, even if it means turning against their own government.

Even during the ceasefire, Hamas aims to use the hostages to pressure Israel. "During the negotiations for the second stage (of the ceasefire, to happen during phase 1), Hamas will allow the Red Cross to visit some of the prisoners (for the first time every) as a gesture of goodwill and to send messages to their families (to increase the pressure via the families).”

The pressure on Israel is intended to increase, forcing it to extend the ceasefire. Hamas also details important demands from Israel, such as the release of 100 mass murderers and terrorists serving life sentences in prison.

Several key points of the document focus on how to maneuver the international community and advance the rebuilding of Hamas's military power.

The document discusses "political maneuvering": Hamas’s negotiation strategy includes proposing "deploying Arab forces along the eastern and northern borders" with Israel. However, their sole purpose would be to "serve as a buffer to prevent the enemy from entering Gaza after the end of the war until they (Hamas) can regroup and rebuild their military capabilities."

In other words, Hamas wants to prepare for new battles with the help of Arab armies.

Israel should be blamed for the unsuccessful negotiations. Hamas's message to the media should be that Israel rejected a deal proposed by the US. The media should be led to believe that while Hamas agreed, the deal failed due to "Israel’s stubbornness." Hamas should not be held responsible for the lack of agreement.

It is also worth noting what is absent from the document: the "Philadelphi (Gaza-Egypt) Border Corridor,” which was the focus of negotiations for weeks, is not mentioned. However, Hamas currently pretends it is of utmost importance to them.

The border corridor separates Gaza from Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu wants it to remain under military control. Hamas refuses to accept this and demands a withdrawal of forces. The corridor has become one of the most sensitive points in the negotiations, with the US also exerting strong pressure on Israel.

Telegram - https://t.me/Israel_Realtime_Updates
🔅WhatsApp - https://chat.whatsapp.com/KTJr27sRbRLA0W17IMFQjr
🔸X (twitter) - https://x.com/IsraelRealtime
🔸Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558471625976

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Beastly Boy

(10,636 posts)
1. How does the West not understand that by disregarding and belittling Hamas' motives for their atrocities
Fri Sep 6, 2024, 11:39 AM
Sep 6

they enable global terrorism that the West will inevitably fall victim to themselves?

Richard D

(9,163 posts)
2. This is the question . . .
Fri Sep 6, 2024, 12:17 PM
Sep 6

. . . that displays how competent Hamas's propaganda and brainwashing is.

It would be similar to the West making excuses for the Third Reich and demanding a cease-fire agreement with the Nazis. So few get this.

My Tagline, which I have had for many years, perfectly demonstrates this topic.

Israeli

(4,249 posts)
3. IDF probing leaks of Hamas papers seemingly aimed at stoking opposition to hostage deal
Mon Sep 9, 2024, 05:02 AM
Sep 9
IDF refutes Bild claim that document on Hamas pressure tactics was written by Sinwar, while material cited by UK Jewish paper on ostensible Sinwar escape plan not known to IDF

The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that it had launched an internal investigation after documents recovered from the Gaza Strip were recently leaked to foreign press in an apparent attempt to influence public opinion on the hostage negotiations.

Over the weekend, a report by the German newspaper Bild claimed that a Hamas document found on the computer of leader Yahya Sinwar showed the terror group’s tactics to pressure Israel and stall the hostage talks.

The document’s alleged contents, which claimed that Hamas is seeking to sow division in the Israeli public and that the terror group is not seeking to reach a deal quickly, were nearly identical to points made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent interviews and press conferences.

The IDF said that the document cited by Bild was found in Gaza some five months ago, and was not written by Sinwar himself, but that it was a recommendation paper drawn up by a mid-level Hamas officer.

“The information in the document joins other identical documents that we had in the past; it did not constitute new information,” the IDF said.

The military said that the leak “constitutes a serious offense and will be investigated.”

Separately, supposed documents found in Gaza cited by the British newspaper The Jewish Chronicle claimed that Sinwar was planning to smuggle himself and other leaders from the terror group, along with some of the remaining Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, out of Gaza via the Philadelphi Corridor and from there to Iran.

This claim too was similar to Netanyahu’s recent talking points regarding the hostage deal and the premier’s insistence on the IDF remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor.

In the case of the Jewish Chronicle report, the IDF said it was unaware of any such document actually existing.

The Jewish Chronicle report was picked up by some right-wing Hebrew media outlets and shared on social media by Netanyahu’s son, Yair.

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu referred to the Bild article at length.


The reported document shows Hamas wants to “tear us apart from the inside and to continue the war until further notice,” said Netanyahu. “The vast majority of Israeli citizens aren’t falling for this trap.”

Netanyahu has in recent weeks insisted that Israel must retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor for the foreseeable future, even during the potential first 42-day phase of a hostage-ceasefire deal in which some 30 living hostages could be freed. He has said that control of the route, along the Gaza-Egypt border, is crucial to Israel’s future, because of the danger that otherwise Hamas would resume weapons smuggling across the border, and build up forces for further October 7 massacres.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and all of Israel’s security chiefs are widely reported to have said that alternative solutions can be found to control the border and that the IDF could swiftly return after the first phase of the deal, or at any other time, and expressed fears that Netanyahu, in raising the Philadelphi demand, is sabotaging a potential deal in order to satisfy his far-right coalition partners and retain power.

Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-probing-gaza-files-leak-that-sought-to-shift-public-view-of-hostage-talks/



Israeli

(4,249 posts)
4. Why did a British Jewish newspaper publish fake Israeli intelligence?
Wed Sep 11, 2024, 08:35 AM
Sep 11
Israel’s army suspects fabrications published in the Jewish Chronicle were part of a pro-Bibi influence campaign, while the article’s author is not as he claims.
By
Ben Reiff
September 11, 2024

On Sept. 4, Benjamin Netanyahu called a press conference for foreign media in order to explain his stubborn insistence on keeping Israeli forces in Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor, even at the expense of a hostage deal. To his well-worn claim that the Gaza-Egypt border has historically been “porous” to the smuggling of weapons, the prime minister attached a new argument: if the Israeli army is not in control of the area, Hamas could “easily smuggle hostages out … to the Sinai desert,” and from there to “Iran or … Yemen.” After that, he added, “they’re gone forever.”

The following day, the Jewish Chronicle, Britain’s oldest Jewish newspaper, published an exclusive report that brought Netanyahu’s hypothetical argument to life. It purported to reveal evidence from Israeli “intelligence sources” proving not only that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar intended to smuggle out the remaining hostages via the Philadelphi Corridor to Iran, but that Hamas’ surviving leaders in Gaza, including Sinwar himself, would be going with them.

Such a plan, the article stated, “was reportedly revealed during the interrogation of a captured senior Hamas official, as well as by information obtained from documents seized on Thursday, August 29, the day the six bodies of the murdered hostages were retrieved.” It went on: “To Sinwar, the Philadelphi corridor has turned out to be the only option available to fulfill his plan.”

The Jewish Chronicle’s scoop quickly gained traction and was picked up and amplified by a plethora of right-wing Israeli media outlets and influencers, including Netanyahu’s son Yair. On Sept. 9, the prime minister’s wife, Sara, met with the parents of remaining hostages and reportedly told them: “There is no choice with the Philadelphi Corridor — there are reports that [Hamas] will flee to Iran [with the hostages].”

There’s only one problem: the story is totally made up.


The day after it was published, Israel’s Channel 12 refuted the article’s claims, stating that “all of the relevant sources in the security establishment” are unaware of the supposed intelligence, whether from an interrogation or a written document. Two days later, Ynet journalist Ronen Bergman quoted four sources from Israel’s intelligence community and the Israeli army’s prisoners and missing persons division, who described the Jewish Chronicle’s claims as a “wild fabrication” and stated that no such document exists. Another described it as “one hundred percent lies.” IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari also officially dismissed the story as being baseless.

This wasn’t the only article that raised red flags last week about the spread of fictitious Israeli intelligence. On Sept. 6, an exclusive report in Germany’s most widely read daily newspaper, Bild, purported to reveal the contents of a secret document found on Sinwar’s personal computer in Gaza earlier this year. That document, Bild claimed, contained Hamas’ strategy vis-a-vis the hostage negotiations as approved by Sinwar himself, revealing how the group is “manipulating the international community, [psychologically] torturing the hostage families, and seeking to rearm.”

Crucially, the report stated, the secret document provides evidence that Hamas does not view reaching a ceasefire to be an urgent priority. According to Bild, the letter contains the sentence: “Important clauses in the agreement should be improved, even if negotiations continue over a longer period of time.”

Remarkably, that story — which was parroted by Netanyahu in an Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday — was also based largely on fabrication. Israeli military sources told Ynet that the army did discover a document in Gaza earlier this year bearing some likeness to the one described by the German newspaper, but it was merely a proposal drafted by a junior operative. Contrary to Bild’s claims, it was not an official strategy document, nor was it penned by Sinwar or any other senior Hamas leader. And as for the line about Hamas being willing to prolong the negotiations — that didn’t appear in the real document at all.


So what on earth is going on?

The Israeli army seems to be treating the two articles, in the Jewish Chronicle and Bild, as connected, and has opened an internal investigation to try and find the source of the leaks and fabrications. According to Bergman in Ynet, the military suspects that whoever is responsible is seeking to influence Israeli public opinion in favor of Netanyahu, just as mass Israeli protests for a hostage deal threaten to scuttle his attempts to keep the war raging. As a military official with knowledge of the army’s investigation told Bergman definitively: “This is an influence campaign on … the Israeli public … and we are determined to find the person or entity behind it.”

Some in Israel are pointing the finger directly at the prime minister. It is widely inferred that Netanyahu has for months been selectively leaking information to the Israeli media under the guise of a “senior Israeli official,” but this would mark a new stage in his attempts to deceive the public. The divisions in recent months between Netanyahu and the security establishment, including on the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor, have also been well documented.

“How is it possible that right after the six living hostages came back dead and public outrage grew and the protests intensified, a letter was written that answers all of Netanyahu’s problems?” the veteran Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar tweeted, referring to the doctored document revealed by Bild. “For half a year, the ‘Sinwar document’ … was waiting on Sinwar’s personal computer for publication? And surely it makes sense that Sinwar sits in a tunnel thinking and thinking and arrives precisely at a document that matches Netanyahu’s slogans?”

“It was clear to me,” Eldar went on, “that this was a leak from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which is manipulating the foreign press … to further tear apart Israel’s divided society and save Netanyahu from the intensifying protests. The sad bottom line is that this is a well-timed campaign against the hostages’ families.”

Who is Elon Perry?

But the story gets even stranger. The author of the Jewish Chronicle article is a man by the name of Elon Perry, who has published a series of scoops in the newspaper since the war began — including revealing new details about the Israeli army’s recent assassinations of Hamas’ military commander Mohammed Deif (whose death Hamas has denied) and political chief Ismail Haniyeh, in Gaza and Tehran respectively.

Perry’s bio on the Jewish Chronicle’s website states that he served as a commando soldier in Israel’s Golani Brigade for 28 years, that he has 25 years of journalism experience, and that he lectures on the Middle East in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

His website additionally claims that during his military service he was part of a unit of mista’arvim, or soldiers who go undercover as Palestinians, and that he also participated in Operation Entebbe, Israel’s 1976 raid of a passenger plane hijacked by Palestinian and German militants. Perry also professes to be the author of two books, and is described by the publisher of the second, which came out in April of this year, as having been a professor at Tel Aviv University (TAU) for more than 15 years.

Except almost none of this is true. An investigation by Hazinor, a program on Israel’s Channel 13, revealed on Sept. 9 that there was no record of Perry having worked at TAU, nor did he participate in Entebbe. What’s more, the photo on his website purporting to show him undercover at a protest dressed as a Palestinian — which he labeled as being from 1992 — was actually taken in 2015.

In what appears to have been a sting interview, Hazinor’s reporter challenged Perry regarding all of these discrepancies. Under pressure, Perry denied having been an undercover operative, despite this claim also appearing in his first book. He also denied having worked at TAU, saying “maybe the publisher got it wrong,” and he denied having participated in Entebbe. When asked why his website claimed otherwise, Perry responded: “I don’t go on my website. I didn’t check it.”


But the Operation Entebbe claim isn’t only from his website: +972 found that it is also the basis of an article that appeared in Soldiers of Fortune magazine in his name three weeks ago, and was included in the introduction to an interview he gave to the Orthodox Jewish magazine Ami just last week.

Simi Spolter, a tech journalist with Israel’s The Marker, was also suspicious about Perry’s identity and did some digging. Perry’s bio on the Times of Israel’s website, where he wrote two blog posts in 2021, claims that he reported for “several Israeli national newspapers as well as for radio and television”; he also told Britain’s Jewish Telegraph in 2014 that he worked for Maariv — another apparent lie.

“Personally, I have not found any article or mention of him in the Hebrew media … not in Maariv nor in any [other] media organization,” Spolter tweeted. “Apart from nine articles in the [Jewish Chronicle], all of them from recent months, there is no documented history of Elon Perry as a journalist of 25 years.”

In his exposé for Ynet, Bergman further revealed that it is not just Perry’s latest article in the Jewish Chronicle that contains falsehoods, but also the one that preceded it: an Aug. 28 report titled “The real reason Hamas can’t free the remaining hostages.”

Again citing unnamed “intelligence sources,” Perry claimed that Hamas is currently holding only around 20 of the roughly 100 Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza — many of them allegedly handcuffed in the vicinity of Sinwar — and that the rest are in the possession of other militant groups, hence delaying a hostage deal. But an officer in the Israeli army’s prisoners and missing persons division told Ynet that the army knows such claims to be “bullshit.”

Continued @ : https://www.972mag.com/jewish-chronicle-elon-perry-netanyahu-intelligence/
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Israel/Palestine»Hamas Negotiation Guideli...