CIA Director William Burns said Israel has weakened Hamas, but destroying the movement is difficult. He emphasized that a ceasefire in Gaza is crucial for the region’s future, adding that defeating Hamas requires countering its ideology.
British intelligence chief Richard Moore, in a joint panel hosted by the Financial Times, said Iran’s support was behind Hamas’ actions on Oct. 7. He stressed that Iran is trying to destabilize the Middle East, and they are working to counter it.
The issue isn’t whether you agree with the above, but that the heads of two major intelligence agencies are hinting at things without being direct, or that their comments lacked detail for a more precise discussion.
What they said isn’t new - it’s been discussed before Oct. 7 - about Iran’s destabilizing role and the notion that Hamas is an ideology – a view that’s gained traction since then.
What matters now isn’t whether Hamas is an ideology or a result of sabotage, or what Iran is doing. The real concern is the lack of a clear plan to counter Hamas’ ideology or Iran’s agenda.
The key to undermining Iran and its militias is the creation of a Palestinian state - anything else is a waste of time. The peace process and normalization efforts in the region aren’t new, but they won’t fully succeed without a Palestinian state.
Whether Hamas is an idea or ideology doesn’t matter. Many groups with similar ideas have already wreaked havoc in the region. Moammar al-Gaddafi's chaotic ideology destroyed Libya, and Omar al-Bashir’s thinking led to Sudan’s division.
Saddam Hussein also followed an ideology, but threw Iraq into uncertainty. It is now controlled by destructive forces from Iran and its allies, along with other contributors to the devastation.
What’s needed now, more than ever, is a concrete plan, not just ideas. The focus should be on establishing a Palestinian state, which will help protect other states in the region and block outdated ideologies.
A statehood plan would remove Iran’s excuses, whether on the Palestinian issue, minorities, or sectarianism. It would safeguard citizenship and prevent foreign interference and internal disruption.
The discussion must center on a Palestinian state, and action should start now. This includes supporting and reforming the Palestinian Authority with Arab and international backing.
Anything else is just repeating past failures.
