White House holding secret talks with Hamas

Alameen Templeton

American King Donald is Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest friend. He gives him 2000pound bombs, he gives him $3billion in emergency funding, he gives him hugs and shares camera moments with him.

And Donald hates sharing the limelight. So, they must be best buddies, not so?

Onder draai die duiwel rond

King Donald has callously dismissed the entire history of Gaza, saying he’s going to turn it into a holiday resort and send the Palestinians to Somaliland.

That’s the kind of stuff Israelis lap up and they love King Donald.

So, why is King Donald holding secret talks with Hamas?

Axios made the revelations Tuesday night that the White House had been holding direct talks with Hamas over the release of US hostages in Gaza and the possibility of a broader deal to end the war.

It’s the first, direct sign that King Donald wants to prise Netanyahu’s hand from the Arabian tiller, because his decisions to go to war are also holding the US hostage to his whims.

Effectively, every time Netanyahu decides to invade another nation or to attack unarmed civilians the US’s security and diplomatic protocols demand the US give immediate, close support.

Stuck in a feeding frenzy

It’s a standing protocol and Netanyahu has come to realise it also means US war and foreign policy are firmly in his hands as long as he continues the march to war and ever more war.

Like a shark, he has to keep moving forward on his path or he will suffocate. His right-wing partners are the only bastion shielding him from an election and corruption court cases that will probably send him to jail.

So, while Donald has been giving Bibi his best hugs and public wishes, the secret negotiations with Hamas show Agent Orange has come to realise it’s either him or Netanyahu. His ego will never allow another man to push him around or take what is his.

In this case, what’s “his” is US war and foreign policy and he doesn’t like Netanyahu mucking about with presidential toys that should be his after he made “the greatest comeback ever in human history”, became American president, “not once, twice; I should be named king”.

And he gets into the Oval Office to find Netanyahu sitting in his chair!

Playing a double game

Clearly, either Donald or Netanyahu will have to go. Both can’t fit into the chair.

So, KDT is playing chummy in public, while seeking to undermine Netanyahu in secret and to work out a deal that he can take credit for while removing Bibi’s pretext for war and putting the Arabian tiller back in Donald’s hand, “where it belongs”.

Axios reports the talks — held by US presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler — are unprecedented. The US had never engaged directly with Hamas, which it designated a terrorist organization in 1997.

And the talks have been going on for weeks, so it may be Netanyahu wasn’t the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House after all.

It could be that Hamas leaders have been enjoying tea in the rose garden at night while talking all things good for Gaza.

Out of the loop

Certainly, the news won’t go down well in Netanyahu’s narrowing circles. It will be seen as a strong vote of no confidence in his future.

Israel only found out about the talks through other channels, according to Axios.

In an apparent bid to head off negative publicity or being portrayed as a wimp, King Donald Trump has aired a “last warning” to Hamas to free hostages or see the US send Israel all it needs to “finish the job”.

The Orange Emperor posted his chilling threat on Truth Social shortly after welcoming eight freed Israeli hostages to the Oval Office Wednesday.

Markaz Sahaba’s Foreign Policy Desk has been red-lighting a dichotomy for over a week now – contrasting King Donald’s apparent willingness to give Israel a blank check, which stands in stark contrast to his decision to literally turn the tap off on aid to Ukraine amid peace negotiations.

Netanyahu may find his addiction to war may cause that check to bounce in the very near future, especially if an attack on Gaza could up-end a peace deal brokered personally by Donald.

Attacking Gaza is attacking Donald?

The king feels very protective about his ideas and his plans and his deals.

That could be heralding a moment where an attack on Gaza will be seen as the same as an attack on Donald.

Boehler’s remit as hostage envoy is supposed to be constrained to just getting a few people or bodies out, but he has clearly moved far beyond his boundaries.

Axios reports he had also discussed with Hamas a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and to reach a long-term truce, but no deal has been reached yet.

Five Americans are among the 59 known hostages held by Hamas, 35 are believed dead and 22 still alive. 21-year-old American Edan Alexander is believed to be alive.

Phase One of the ceasefire ran out on Saturday night, but fighting has not resumed although the Zionazis have imposed another starvation blockade, refusing to allow essential goods and food through to the enclave.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the US was talking to Hamas directly, adding King Donald believed “it is t he right thing to do for the American people”.