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** How Hamas Sees the West's Recognition of 'Palestine' ([link removed])
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by Khaled Abu Toameh • August 5, 2025 at 5:00 am
* Hamas's primary goal is to remain in power after the war so that it can continue its jihad (holy war) to eliminate Israel.
* Western leaders have succeeded in making any negotiations impossible. The message they sent -- especially in Europeans -- was: Massacre and keep the hostages and be rewarded with a state. The terrorists clearly see, yet again, that terrorism pays off. So keep on doing it!
* Despite their opposition to the "two-state solution," the Palestinian terrorists are nevertheless prepared to take any land Israel gives them so it can be used as a launchpad to destroy Israel.
* In 2017, Hamas issued a "policy document" that confirmed this approach. The terror group made it clear in its document that it would not oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Hamas, however, stressed that this does not mean that the terror group would recognize Israel's right to exist.
* Hamas's policy document has been mistakenly interpreted by some Westerners as a sign of pragmatism, moderation and acceptance of the "two-state solution" on the part of the terror group. False. Hamas, as part of a campaign to deceive and mislead Westerners into accepting it as a legitimate player in the Palestinian arena, is pretending that it supports a Palestinian next to Israel. In reality, Hamas is clearly stating that such a state will be used for "the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea."
* In the same document, Hamas makes it abundantly clear that it will pursue its jihad against Israel after the establishment of a Palestinian state.
* This is certainly not the right time to talk about a "two-state solution." The jihadists and terrorists see it as a reward for their atrocities against Israel. It is more important to focus efforts on dismantling and crushing all the Palestinian terror groups and embarking on a process of deradicalization for the Palestinians before talking about a peace process or "two-state solution."
* Under the current circumstances, statements about recognizing a Palestinian state send a message to the Palestinians that terrorism and violence -- not negotiations -- are the best way to gain international support for statehood... and anything else.

Hamas's primary goal is to remain in power after the war so that it can continue its jihad (holy war) to eliminate Israel. Pictured: Hamas terrorists n Khan Yunis, Gaza, on February 1, 2025. (Photo by Moiz Salhi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

The recent announcements by France, Britain, Canada and other countries that they intend to recognize a Palestinian state have emboldened the Iran-backed Palestinian terror group Hamas. Its members, on October 7, 2023, were behind the worst crime committed against Jews since the Holocaust. The massacre resulted in the murder of more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and the wounding of thousands. In addition, another 251 Israelis and foreign nationals were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, where 50 hostages – 30 believed dead and 20 believed alive – are still held captive.

This was Hamas's initial reaction to the announcements: "The recognition of the State of Palestine with full sovereignty is the fruit of our people's continuous struggle." Hamas clearly views the statements made by the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and other countries as the direct result of its October 7 carnage.

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