Hebrew Media: Hamas Seizes Initiative in Media War and Emerges Victorious / U.S. Support for Netanyahu’s Violation of the Agreement’s Deadline, as People and Resistance Await State and Army Action

 January 25, 2025

The political editor wrote

From the platform of the Davos Conference, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled what he called the need to reduce oil prices. Observers in oil markets saw this as mere justification for the inevitable consequences of Trump’s decision to flood the European market with American oil, imposing it as a reality on both Europe and Gulf oil suppliers. By doing so, Trump aims to carve out a significant share of the global oil market for the U.S., establishing it as a heavyweight seller alongside Russia and Saudi Arabia. This would provide a financial and economic boost to the U.S. economy.

Trump essentially offers Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states two choices: maintain their current production levels and accept the forceful entry of the U.S. into the market with lower prices, or cut production to stabilise prices. Meanwhile, Trump continues to pressure Saudi Arabia for $1 trillion in investments in the U.S., even as he inflicts economic damage on its oil revenues and seizes control of one of its most important markets – Europe.

In the aftermath of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the media has highlighted the strength of the resistance. Images and statements from the leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades have re-emerged, emphasising their planning, leadership capabilities, and resilience before, during, and after the recent escalation. Photos of Hamas leader and martyr Yahya Sinwar, as well as other images of commander Mohammed Deif, revived memories of the prisoner exchange day, showcasing Al-Qassam fighters and their vehicles in a manner that left the occupying entity’s public stunned.

Ahead of the second prisoner exchange, a new video was broadcast, prompting comments in the Hebrew media about Hamas’s control over the narrative in the media war. These reports suggest that once the agreement is fully implemented, Hamas will emerge with an undeniable victory, overshadowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s and other leaders’ claims of triumph.

In Lebanon, political, diplomatic, security, and military circles are on high alert as the 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire agreement for the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon approaches. The White House issued a surprising statement expressing broad U.S. support for Israel’s violation of the agreement. This followed the Israeli Prime Minister’s declaration that the 60-day deadline would not be honoured, citing the incomplete deployment of the Lebanese Army and the absence of a full withdrawal of Hezbollah’s forces and weapons from south of the Litani River.

Lebanese officials are actively engaging with their American counterparts, who are the official sponsors and guarantors of the agreement. Meanwhile, the people of South Lebanon, particularly in the towns and villages affected by the delay, await action from the Lebanese state and its army. The Lebanese Army has affirmed that there are no delays in its deployment or in Hezbollah’s adherence to its obligations under the agreement.

While Netanyahu’s statement restricts Hezbollah’s obligations to withdrawing from south of the Litani, some Lebanese figures are asserting that the delay in Israel’s withdrawal is due to Hezbollah’s failure to disarm. They echo the rhetoric of former U.S. President Joe Biden: “You don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist”.