The President's Daily Brief
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | January 21st, 2025: Hamas Reasserts Control Over Gaza & Trump Reverses Biden Policy With Cuba Crackdown
21 Jan 2025
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First, we'll discuss a Wall Street Journal report that details how, in the hours following the start of the cease-fire agreement with Israel, Hamas has quickly moved to reassert its control over the Gaza strip. Then, in a quick reversal of Biden policy, President Trump has returned the nation of Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
Hey, it's Mike Baker here. If you're keeping score at home, I am still in the Middle East on an epic trek through the deserts of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Five riders, ten camels, and a remarkable support team. While I'm away, Mike Slater is here to guide you through the President's Daily Brief.
Thanks, Mike. It's Tuesday, 21 January 2025. Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Mike Slater filling in for Mike Baker. Let's get briefed. First, as the ceasefire in Gaza takes hold, Hamas has flooded the streets with thousands of its fighters in a major show of force, demonstrating that they will remain the dominant power in the territory.
We'll discuss Israel's reaction and what the terror groups continue to hold over the enclave means for the fragile truce. Later in the show, in a quick reversal of Biden policy, President Trump has returned the nation of Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. But first, today's afternoon spotlight.
I want to start today's show by bringing to your attention a Wall Street Journal report that details how in the first hours following the start of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, Hamas has quickly moved to reassert its control over the Gaza Strip. As Israeli troops withdrew, Hamas's forces re-emerged, taking to the streets in a highly visible display of authority.
Thousands of armed and uniformed militants paraded through Gaza, flashing victory signs to cheering crowds, showing that despite months of conflict, Hamas remains the dominant power in the territory.
The images were a stark reminder that despite all the military might that Israel deployed in Gaza, its stated war goals, destroying Hamas and replacing it with alternative governance, remains unrealized.
Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator, described the situation as a, quote, slap in the face to Israel, highlighting the limited impact that the military campaign may have had on Hamas's core structure. The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, has paused one of the deadliest conflicts in recent Middle Eastern history.
Over 47,000 people in Gaza have been killed since October 2023, following Hamas's deadly attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 Israelis. While the truce allows for hostages and prisoners to be exchanged, it also raises pressing questions about Gaza's governance in the aftermath, something the PDB has been highlighting extensively since the start of this 15-month conflict.
Now, it's important to point out that the Israeli officials argue the high civilian casualties are because Hamas fighters embedded themselves within the population, and their quick reappearance seems to back that up. Many Hamas members reportedly stashed their uniforms and weapons, laying low until the ceasefire gave them the chance to come back out.
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