Staff Reports
The naïveté of some in the Trump administration is truly staggering, as evidenced by the recent chatter surrounding the Gaza conflict. A Trump “transition official” has apparently concluded that the crux of the issue has little to do with long-standing political complexities, but rather hinges on the mere fact that Palestinians are lacking a “sense of hope.” Really? Is this the grand strategy to solve decades of entrenched conflict? They might as well suggest handing out sunshine and rainbows along with the cash.
The NBC report glorifying Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, reveals a dangerously simplistic mindset. This so-called expert seems eager to wash, rinse, and repeat an already failed strategy: throwing money at a problem with the flimsy hope it will magically resolve itself. Billions of dollars have already been plowed into Palestinian territories with little to show for it, aside from the construction of tunnels resembling the world’s most elaborate underground amusement park—at least, according to the plans of Hamas.
🚨🇺🇸🇵🇸 TRUMP ADMIN OFFICIAL PROMISES TO HELP GAZANS:
“If we don’t HELP THE GAZANS, if we don’t make their life better, if we don’t give them a sense of hope, there’s going to be a rebellion.” pic.twitter.com/cB6hxqX1Qh
— Legitimate Targets (@LegitTargets) January 20, 2025
What’s even more perplexing is the official’s haunting reference to the “right wing” in Israel being akin to Hamas. Typically, such rhetoric is reserved for leftist sympathizers who miss no chance to condemn the Israeli government while championing terrorist organizations. One has to wonder where this individual came from—perhaps a far-left university or, more tragically, one of those cozy academic circles where historical fact takes a backseat to politically correct sentiment.
The idea that a trip to Gaza could unlock the enigma of peace is laughable. The unnamed transition official said it’s necessary to get the “real story” instead of relying on what either side says. But if anyone’s been following the news, it’s repeatedly shown that the information flowing from Hamas-controlled sources needs to be taken with a heaping tablespoon of salt. The same person then warns that if the U.S. doesn’t step in to improve Gazans’ lives, a “rebellion” could be on the horizon. The question begs: a rebellion against whom? Hamas, which enjoys complete control over Gaza and recently celebrated ceasefires amid Israeli assaults? Or perhaps against Israel itself, despite their withdrawal in 2005?
Witkoff and the anonymous “transition official” appear oblivious to a crucial fact: the Gazans have been inundated with support from the U.S. and other nations for years. And what do they do with this assistance? Mostly funneled right into methods of wreaking havoc rather than actual uplifting of their society. It’s utterly perplexing that such dire miscalculations are being considered by those positioned to influence the fate of millions.
Trump was elected on the premise of shaking up the status quo, not dousing everyone with the same old tired palliatives that only serve to enable the problem rather than solve it. Let’s hope that the Trump administration can turn its gaze away from the conventional wisdom that has failed for decades and embrace a more pragmatic approach to an extraordinarily complicated crisis.
