Al-Zahar comes out of his rathole; six more weeks of terrorism

Happy Hamas Groundhog Day! There will be six more weeks of rockets, then more terrorism to follow.

Gaza’s top strongman appeared in public Saturday for the first time since Israel launched its offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers six weeks ago.

Mahmoud al-Zahar led a Hamas delegation to a new round of ceasefire talks in Egypt. Apparently fearing Israeli assassination, al-Zahar had been in hiding during the three-week offensive and even after a tentative ceasefire took hold in mid-January.

[…] Al-Zahar, who is one of Gaza’s top two leaders, and three other Hamas officials crossed from Gaza into Egypt on Saturday, en route to Cairo. Still in hiding is Gaza Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

So… if this was a Hamas victory, why are the leaders still in hiding? And who doubts that al-Zahar will go right back into his rathole as soon as he gets back to Gaza? Well, Khaled Mashaal, for one—another Hamas leader who never emerges from hiding unless he is surrounded by thousands of human shields.

Khaled Mashaal spoke before thousands of supporters at a Damascus rally. He repeated claims that the Palestinians had won the war in Gaza.

“It is impudence to try to reverse the results of the war, and to try to dictate the terms for negotiations on the ceasefire, as if the loser won and the winner lost,” the exiled leader declared.

“If we had lost,” he wondered, “would these thousands have arrived to celebrate? Who would celebrate a loss? It is a victory for the entire nation. It’s the first time the Palestinians have won a direct war with the enemy.”

I believe Bibi Netanyahu when he says he will topple Hamas. I think he’s going to use targeted assassinations. And so, I’m sure, does the Hamas leadership. They won’t be surfacing anytime soon.