In a dramatic escalation of its three-month-long counter-terrorism campaign in northern Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began demolishing approximately 90 illegal structures in the Nur Shams and Tulkarem refugee camps, areas long plagued by terrorist infrastructure and incitement. The move comes amid mounting security concerns and intelligence indicating these camps are being used as operational bases by terror cells.
In a fiery interview on Qatari owned Al Jazeera, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of threatening Qatar in a desperate attempt to extract concessions from the terror group. As hostage negotiations falter and Israel prepares to escalate its military campaign in Gaza, Mardawi reiterated Hamasâs refusal to accept any partial or short-term agreements. He defiantly vowed that Hamas would continue its âresistanceâ across all fronts, rejecting any resolution that falls short of ending the conflict on Hamasâs terms. The statements are a clear signal that the terror group has no intention of ceasing its hostilities against Israel, even under the guise of ceasefire talks.
According to Israel News on Telegram:
â Leslie Young âĄď¸ (@AkaLazarus) May 4, 2025
Israel informed the mediators that the time for negotiations has ended and that Qatarâs services are no longer needed.
Israel has decided to proceed with the complete destruction of Hamas. Tens of thousands of Israeli reservists are⌠pic.twitter.com/7ee9VgmLPe
Hamas Defiant
In a blistering interview aired on Al Jazeera overnight, Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official operating from outside Gaza, launched a verbal assault on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of resorting to coercive diplomacy by threatening Qatarâ an Islamist nation under the rule of a family that aligns themselves with the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar has tried to portray themselves as a neutral mediator in the ongoing hostage negotiations, but on several occasions have been proven to have been acting in the interest of their ideological brethren, Hamas.
A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
Qatar has been a financial supporter of Hamas for over a decade, and they give refuge to Hamas leadership. Many of those leaders live lives of wealth within the tiny, oil rich nation while their people are subjugated by their own militant group. Qatari ministers have recently been in the news for comments in support of the terror group that were recorded.
Many in the West have accused Qatar of working to undermine democracy in Europe and the United States in an effort to support the expansionism of Islam across the world. Independent studies have brought into question the billions of dollars in funding that Qatar has given to American and European educational institutions as well as the many protest groups that have sprouted up during the Israel-Gaza war. Several controversial organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine as well as the oddly named Jewish Voice for Peace, which has been accused of appropriating the name Jewish in an effort to bring legitimacy to their anti-Israel platform, have been linked to funding by Qatar-based sources.
#Qatar's billions are reshaping U.S. institutions, from universities to think tanks, fueling #Hamas & Muslim Brotherhood agendas.
â Middle East Forum (@meforum) May 5, 2025
Join MEF on 5/5 at 1:30PM for a podcast with @MPPregent exposing Doha's covert influence & its threat to Western security.https://t.co/jgs7G3baXC
âNetanyahu is directly threatening Qatar to force it to pressure Hamas because he has failed in his siege [on Gaza],â Mardawi claimed, presenting the Israeli leader as flailing in the face of diplomatic and military setbacks.
Hostage Talks Stalled
Mardawiâs remarks come at a critical juncture, as negotiations for a hostage deal remain deadlocked and Israel signals an imminent expansion of its military operations in the Gaza Strip. Despite international efforts to broker a temporary ceasefire, Hamas is doubling down on its maximalist demands and refusal to compromise.
âWe reject all evasions and partial agreements that do not bring this campaign to an end,â said Mardawi. âWe want a solution that will stop the killing. The partial paths and fragmented deals, which only lead back to war and dishonest pressure tactics, are paths we will not return to.â
In an unyielding tone, Mardawi accused Netanyahu of using manipulative tactics to avoid accountability, insisting that Hamas has already outlined a comprehensive proposal to international mediators.
Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Qatar are all terrorist organizations looking to spread radical Islam and destroy the West. https://t.co/JMMagLU424
â ERIC RUBIN ×ר×ק đŚ đď¸ (@rubin_eric) May 5, 2025
Feigning Outrage & Making Excuses
âThis behavior distances us from reaching a deal rather than bringing us closer,â Mardawi argued. âWe will not give Netanyahu an opportunity to evade responsibility and lie. He is trying to apply pressure through many channels to force us to concede. We will not back down from our position.â
Turning his attention to recent developments in Lebanon, Mardawi commented on the handover of a Hamas operative involved in rocket attacks on Israel, brushing off the incident as part of the broader confrontation with the Jewish state.
#Qatar TV Al-Jazeera says "resistance in Gaza has intensified its ambushes against occupation forces."
â Hussain Abdul-Hussain (@hahussain) May 4, 2025
Qatar is not a mediator between Hamas and Israel. Qatar is a party in the fight, a sponsor of Hamas. pic.twitter.com/Akdte9tk5q
âWe are in a confrontation with the Zionist enemy,â he declared. âThis confrontation will not end as long as Palestine is under occupation and the holy sites remain under threat of Judaization. We will not stop. We will not stop. We will continue our confrontation with this occupation. The resistance will persist in every location.â
Analysis
Mardawiâs statements serve as yet another unequivocal admission that Hamas intends to maintain its campaign of violence and terror, regardless of any ceasefire arrangement. The insistence on âresistance in every locationâ reflects a broader strategy of regional destabilization, leveraging not only Gaza, but also Lebanon, the West Bank, and potentially other fronts to continue its assault on Israeli sovereignty and Jewish historical rights.
Israel informed the mediators that the time for negotiations has ended and that Qatarâs services are no longer needed.
â Cheryl E đŽđąđŽđąđŽđąđď¸ (@CherylWroteIt) May 4, 2025
Israel has decided to proceed with the complete destruction of Hamas.
Itâs about damn time!!!
Despite repeated international calls for a diplomatic resolution, Hamasâs own rhetoric underscores its endgame isnât peace, but the prolongation of armed conflict until its radical objectives are fulfilled. Mardawiâs open rejection of partial agreements and his endorsement of armed confrontation reveal the groupâs true intent: to stall diplomacy while fortifying terror infrastructure for the next round of violence
In a powerful display of solidarity and spiritual significance, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee inaugurated his official duties in Jerusalem on Sunday with a deeply symbolic actâaffixing a mezuzah to the entrance of his office. Far from a mere ceremonial gesture, the moment reflected a profound alignment with Israelâs heritage and the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Read more: Ambassador Huckabee's Office Inaugurated With Symbolism
Air raid sirens blared across Israel Friday afternoon after a ballistic missile was launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi forces. The IDF responded by firing interceptor missiles, with explosions heard in the north, Shomron, and even near Jerusalem. While no direct casualties were reported, shrapnel from Israelâs own defensive system struck a kindergarten in the Megiddo region. This marks yet another escalation in Iranâs regional proxy war against the Jewish state.
Read more: Second Missile From Yemen on Friday Targets Israel's North
A firestorm erupted just before Israel's Memorial Day after people claimed that Sara Netanyahu quietly there are "less" (pachot in Hebrew) than 24 living hostages in Gaza, contradicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was seated next to her while he was speaking. The non-audible but visually convincing word caused the Prime Minister to clarify, stating that I did say "up to" 24 were still alive. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a scathing response, demanding clarity and accusing the Prime Ministerâs wife of triggering widespread panic among already-grieving families. While officials maintain the official number is still 24, the controversial comment has fueled accusations of cruelty, miscommunication, and political callousness at the highest levels of leadership.
Read more: Fury Erupts After Sara Netanyahu Says Less Than 24 Hostages Alive
