The ceasefire took effect on Sunday, marking the beginning of the first phase of the hostage agreement. Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi, 55, Chairman of HaBithonistim, told Ma’ariv about the deal’s implications for Hamas’ continued control over the Gaza Strip:
“Hamas has suffered the loss of tens of thousands of fighters, yet it continues to replenish its ranks using funds from the humanitarian aid. They recruit thousands of new members, some as young as 15 or 16. In certain cases, Hamas threatens families, withholding food if their children don’t enlist. This use of food as leverage enables Hamas to exert complete control over the population, ultimately ensuring that no one eats without their approval.”
HaBithonistim (security hawks) is a non-profit organization established in 2020 at the initiative of Brigadier General (Res.) Avivi. Comprised primarily of senior Israeli security personnel, its stated mission is to “implement sovereignty, strengthen governance in the Land of Israel, and uphold the State of Israel’s right to defend itself within secure borders.”
The organization, whose membership is estimated at 35,000, opposes the two-state solution and advocates for the expansion of Israeli settlements. According to its website, “HaBithonistim is not a political movement. It is open to anyone who believes in its fundamental values.” However, it is described by the mainstream media as a right-wing movement, and some critics have characterized it as having fascistic tendencies.
One man’s patriot is another man’s fascist.
“Since October 7, the security establishment has concentrated on destroying Hamas as a military entity, dismantling its combat structures, and targeting its commanders,” Avivi explained, adding, “But while parts of its leadership have been eliminated, little has been done to effectively dismantle Hamas as a governing authority.
“The IDF has relocated much of Gaza’s population to the humanitarian zone, yet Hamas itself has largely shifted to this area, maintaining control over the population. Ultimately, from the perspective of the civilian population, Hamas remains the dominant authority.
“Additionally, the uncontrolled flow of humanitarian aid has allowed Hamas to seize control of these resources. This enables the organization to exert further influence over the population while generating revenue to fund its operations, pay its operatives, and recruit new members into its ranks.”
In December, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi stated, “We are destroying Hamas and harming its infrastructure and people so that there will be no more October 7s. We are pressuring Hamas and putting it in more distress every day to ensure the return of one hundred kidnapped men and women.”
Avivi asserts regarding Hamas’s losses: “We eliminated a significant number and also severely damaged their ammunition supply, and it must be said that since the Philadelphi corridor was closed, they don’t really have the ability to smuggle into the Strip, so what they actually manage to do is from what they have in the Strip.”
“For instance, the price of ammunition, such as Kalashnikov bullets, has skyrocketed by thousands of percent due to limited supply,” he says. “There isn’t an endless stockpile of ammunition in Gaza, which has contributed to the increased reliance on rockets in recent months. While some rockets have been put into service recently, the current capacity is a far cry from the scale of the initial attack, when 4,000 rockets were fired in a single day.”
However, he warns: “At the same time, they are managing to recruit operatives and they are managing to produce charges at a certain level to prepare a few rockets here and there. They are trying to renew command and control.
“Of course, all of this will now be significantly intensified by the ceasefire, and therefore we will be obliged at the end of the ceasefire to return to fighting and also provide a significant solution to the humanitarian issue, which is actually the key. The key lies in the humanitarian aspect, in our ability to really make a significant change.”
In a recent television interview, Avivi said: “Hamas’s only oxygen pipeline is this ‘humanitarian aid.’ So why don’t we simply step on its oxygen pipeline and press for the release of the hostages? We’ve already done that, and the Americans pressed back with all their might.”
צינור החמצן היחידי של החמאס הוא אותו “סיוע הומניטרי”. בלעדיו הוא כבר ניהל בעבר מו”מ של חטופים עבור קצת דלק. אז מדוע שלא פשוט נדרוך לו על צינור החמצן ונלחץ על שחרור החטופים? כבר עשינו את זה והאמריקאים לחצו בחזרה בכל הכוח.
שעון החול שהקציב טראמפ לחמאס הולך ואוזל. רוצים לדעת היכן… pic.twitter.com/JpCfr2FKDC— הביטחוניסטים (@habithonistim) December 30, 2024
