{"id":51752,"date":"2025-08-18T09:24:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/hamas-may-use-hostages-as-shields-to-stop-idf-gaza-city-invasion-expert-warns\/18\/08\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T09:24:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:24:51","slug":"hamas-may-use-hostages-as-shields-to-stop-idf-gaza-city-invasion-expert-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/hamas-may-use-hostages-as-shields-to-stop-idf-gaza-city-invasion-expert-warns\/18\/08\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamas may use hostages as shields to stop IDF Gaza City invasion, expert warns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As Egypt and Qatar step up pressure on Hamas in hostage talks, expert Lt.-Col. (Res.) Alon Eviatar says the group remains unmoved, using threats to stall IDF action in Gaza City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hamas\u2019s declared plan to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/palestinian-terrorists-considering-moving-hostages-220155680.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:relocate hostages into Gaza City;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">relocate hostages into Gaza City<\/a> to use them as human shields may present a serious deterrent to an IDF operation into the city, Lt.-Col. (Res.) Alon Eviatar, an expert in Palestinian affairs, said on Monday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Speaking to 103FM, Eviatar warned the threat may not be a bluff, but a strategy that could limit Israel\u2019s ability to expand its military pressure on the Strip\u2019s urban core. \u201cTo concentrate, if not all, then most of the hostages inside the city and in the tunnels, using them as a human shield against an IDF incursion, especially into hardcore Hamas strongholds, presents Israel with a very significant deterrent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cEven if Hamas had no intention of doing it, and I see no reason to assume that, they have still handed Israel a very difficult dilemma. They will exploit this threat to the fullest to prevent a broad and massive IDF entry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Eviatar said that Egypt is applying growing pressure on Hamas in light of the IDF\u2019s declared plan to operate more forcefully in Gaza City. \u201cThis past week, we\u2019ve seen Egyptian pressure. The Egyptians are hosting Hamas and holding talks with them in Cairo. When the Egyptians start to squirm in their seats under the assumption that the IDF intends to enter Gaza, that says a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">From Egypt\u2019s perspective, the fear is not only escalation, but migration. &#8220;The scenario troubling Egypt is Israel\u2019s talk about the migration of a million Palestinians from Gaza City southward. That \u2018southward\u2019 means into their home, into Egypt. For them, that\u2019s a red line.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Palestinians look at aid packages that are airdropped over Gaza, in Gaza City, August 8, 2025. (credit: Mahmoud Issa\/Reuters)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Egypt and Qatar exert influence but Hamas stays entrenched<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Eviatar said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/hamas-receives-updated-ceasefire-proposal-012444235.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cairo is pushing Hamas;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Cairo is pushing Hamas<\/a> to show flexibility, but so far with little success. \u201cThere\u2019s an Egyptian attempt to soften Hamas\u2019s positions. I do see them trying to ease and flatten Hamas\u2019s stubbornness on what we\u2019ve seen so far, but I don\u2019t see results. The Israeli threat to enter Gaza City is unwelcome in Hamas\u2019s eyes, but it doesn\u2019t make them climb down from the tree on the critical issues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWhen it comes to tactical adjustments or small flexibility on less central issues, perhaps. But on the bottom line, I don\u2019t see a Hamas shift yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Each mediator has its own leverage, Eviatar said. Egypt\u2019s position is more direct. \u201cGaza is their backyard, the entry point to Sinai, and Hamas has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Rafah Crossing connects the two areas. Egypt can apply real, tangible pressure, not just tomorrow morning. For them, the incentive is stronger, and they play less of a double game than Qatar. Qatar sits outside, pulling strings one way and then the other, but their tool is financial.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Back in Israel, Eviatar commented on the day of nationwide protests held by hostage families on Sunday, which included roadblocks, vigils, and calls for renewed hostage talks. He noted that Hamas is closely monitoring these protests, not as signs of Israeli weakness, but as potential leverage over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s decision-making.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cFrom their point of view, the magnifying glass is to examine how the protests affect Israel\u2019s leadership, whether there\u2019s social leverage that can influence Netanyahu\u2019s decisions. That\u2019s the test for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Despite pressure, Hamas sticks to core demands<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Eviatar was skeptical that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/netanyahu-rejects-partial-hostage-deal-232807342.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the protests;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">the protests<\/a> would move Hamas off its long-standing demands. \u201cI don\u2019t see any change in Hamas\u2019s demands or prices because of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/hostage-protests-32-arrested-nationwide-105004445.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the demonstrations;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">the demonstrations<\/a>. Where is there room to harden further? Their positions have been the same for a long time, no dramatic shifts. Whether protests are weaker or stronger, I don\u2019t see a direct effect on what Hamas presents. In this regard, I reject the claim that the protests are raising the price.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Negotiators in Egypt, including representatives from Qatar, are expected to continue talks this week with Hamas officials. Both Cairo and Doha are trying to pressure Hamas into concessions on hostage release, as Israeli political and public pressure grows.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/hamas-may-hostages-shields-stop-124553182.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Egypt and Qatar step up pressure on Hamas in hostage talks, expert Lt.-Col. (Res.) Alon Eviatar says the group remains unmoved,<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/hamas-may-use-hostages-as-shields-to-stop-idf-gaza-city-invasion-expert-warns\/18\/08\/2025\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/jerusalem_post_articles_818\/098efbaeeb6183a9f0c79a3ca6c424bf","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51752"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}