Trump Pledges 'Violent Disarmament' of Hamas, Ignores Gaza's Missing
Trump's declaration to 'disarm Hamas,' made during a campaign rally, conveniently sidesteps how Hamas gained power: largely due to Israeli policy under Netanyahu that actively sought to weaken the Palestinian Authority, effectively boosting Hamas's political standing in the early 2000s. (See: 'A History of the Present' by Ghassan Hage for extensive historical analysis.) His call for the return of
bodies? Noble, perhaps, but conspicuously silent on the thousands of Palestinian bodies still trapped under rubble or held by Israel since October 7th, let alone the ongoing destruction making recovery impossible. This isn't a new script. Every aspiring (or returning) US President trots out the 'disarm Hamas' line, ignoring that Gaza, under siege since 2007, is already disarmed in any conventional
sense against a nuclear-armed state. (The 'terror tunnels' narrative is a convenient distraction from actual capability.) One might wonder why American politicians consistently prioritize performative aggression over addressing the root causes of conflict they themselves, through unwavering military and economic aid, perpetuate. Perhaps it’s because the narrative of 'terror' is far easier to sell
than the systemic subjugation funded by your tax dollars.