Jonathan Schanzer

But again, I would say that if you look at things on balance, Israel came out stronger at the end of this first phase of the fighting, ending sometime in January. And they have only, I think, gotten stronger since Trump came in. And I think the Iranian axis looks weaker. I can't imagine Hamas is looking on and saying, yeah, we got this.

But again, I would say that if you look at things on balance, Israel came out stronger at the end of this first phase of the fighting, ending sometime in January. And they have only, I think, gotten stronger since Trump came in. And I think the Iranian axis looks weaker. I can't imagine Hamas is looking on and saying, yeah, we got this.

But again, I would say that if you look at things on balance, Israel came out stronger at the end of this first phase of the fighting, ending sometime in January. And they have only, I think, gotten stronger since Trump came in. And I think the Iranian axis looks weaker. I can't imagine Hamas is looking on and saying, yeah, we got this.

So, it's an interesting question because the way that Hamas always worked is that you had these sure counsels. where different leaders from different parts of the Middle East were weighing in, and they were kind of almost democratic. I don't want to take that far, right?

So, it's an interesting question because the way that Hamas always worked is that you had these sure counsels. where different leaders from different parts of the Middle East were weighing in, and they were kind of almost democratic. I don't want to take that far, right?

So, it's an interesting question because the way that Hamas always worked is that you had these sure counsels. where different leaders from different parts of the Middle East were weighing in, and they were kind of almost democratic. I don't want to take that far, right?

But they have leaders in Gaza, they have leaders in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Iran, in Turkey, in Malaysia, in all these different places, and they would all weigh in on particular issues, major decisions undertaken by the terrorist organization. On October 7th, it really does appear that it was Yahya Senwar, the head of Hamas, the guy that hatched this plan in the first place and launched it.

But they have leaders in Gaza, they have leaders in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Iran, in Turkey, in Malaysia, in all these different places, and they would all weigh in on particular issues, major decisions undertaken by the terrorist organization. On October 7th, it really does appear that it was Yahya Senwar, the head of Hamas, the guy that hatched this plan in the first place and launched it.

But they have leaders in Gaza, they have leaders in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Iran, in Turkey, in Malaysia, in all these different places, and they would all weigh in on particular issues, major decisions undertaken by the terrorist organization. On October 7th, it really does appear that it was Yahya Senwar, the head of Hamas, the guy that hatched this plan in the first place and launched it.

He was the guy who was driving all of this. And then once the war began, he was the guy that was making all the decisions because at the end of the day, if he didn't want to stop fighting... He wasn't going to stop fighting. If he wanted to keep going, he was going to keep going. Today, the guy that's making those decisions is his brother, Mohamed Sinwar.

He was the guy who was driving all of this. And then once the war began, he was the guy that was making all the decisions because at the end of the day, if he didn't want to stop fighting... He wasn't going to stop fighting. If he wanted to keep going, he was going to keep going. Today, the guy that's making those decisions is his brother, Mohamed Sinwar.

He was the guy who was driving all of this. And then once the war began, he was the guy that was making all the decisions because at the end of the day, if he didn't want to stop fighting... He wasn't going to stop fighting. If he wanted to keep going, he was going to keep going. Today, the guy that's making those decisions is his brother, Mohamed Sinwar.

And he still has, I think, a great deal of control of whatever is left of the Hamas fighting force. I don't expect him to last very long, but I do think that the center of gravity remains in Gaza primarily. I do think that Iran has a lot to say about this, but how much communication they're able to have with the fighting force, that's an open question.

And he still has, I think, a great deal of control of whatever is left of the Hamas fighting force. I don't expect him to last very long, but I do think that the center of gravity remains in Gaza primarily. I do think that Iran has a lot to say about this, but how much communication they're able to have with the fighting force, that's an open question.

And he still has, I think, a great deal of control of whatever is left of the Hamas fighting force. I don't expect him to last very long, but I do think that the center of gravity remains in Gaza primarily. I do think that Iran has a lot to say about this, but how much communication they're able to have with the fighting force, that's an open question.

These are the sorts of things that I question right now, and I don't really know how to answer. The other part of this equation is the Qataris. And I do think that there, the Qataris are running interference for Hamas. They're the ones who are saying that certain proposals are unacceptable, even if they're not even sharing them with the Hamas operatives that are there.

These are the sorts of things that I question right now, and I don't really know how to answer. The other part of this equation is the Qataris. And I do think that there, the Qataris are running interference for Hamas. They're the ones who are saying that certain proposals are unacceptable, even if they're not even sharing them with the Hamas operatives that are there.

These are the sorts of things that I question right now, and I don't really know how to answer. The other part of this equation is the Qataris. And I do think that there, the Qataris are running interference for Hamas. They're the ones who are saying that certain proposals are unacceptable, even if they're not even sharing them with the Hamas operatives that are there.

And I actually think that it's for this reason, among many others, that the U.S., when this crisis is over... We need to have a serious accounting of whether we want to continue to treat Qatar as an ally. I think we should strip them of their major non-NATO ally status. I think we should consider removing the Al Udeid air base from Doha. It's our largest air base in the Middle East.

And I actually think that it's for this reason, among many others, that the U.S., when this crisis is over... We need to have a serious accounting of whether we want to continue to treat Qatar as an ally. I think we should strip them of their major non-NATO ally status. I think we should consider removing the Al Udeid air base from Doha. It's our largest air base in the Middle East.