Understanding the Israel–Hamas Conflict and the Trump Gaza Peace Proposal: A Briefing by Arjun Hardas
usanasfoundation 
Briefing Report
Compiled By: Preeti Khenta
Usanas Foundation hosted Arjun Hardas, India Representative, American Jewish Committee, at its office in Udaipur. During the event, he delivered a briefing on the Israel-Palestine conflict and Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan. On the Gaza peace plan, he stated that the plan is comprehensive and it is not dependent on the ceasefire; however, if fully implemented, it would be effective. However, he pointed out that the plan’s implementation faces significant challenges, particularly because Hamas has not returned the dead bodies of the Israeli hostages, which is a fundamental prerequisite outlined in the peace plan.
In his discussion about the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mr. Hardas highlighted the events that unfolded when Israel withdrew from Gaza and the PA assumed control. The PLA authority allegedly destroyed all manufacturing and energy facilities. Highlighting the prevalent inconsistencies in the dominant narrative advocating Free Palestine, he drew attention to the fact that both Gaza and the West Bank are already free, as Israel left Gaza in 2005, the West Bank is already under PLA, and there is no one except Palestinians residing there. Furthermore, he noted that during the elections, it was the Gazans who supported and voted for Hamas. He recounted how in 2007, Hamas had literally carried out a coup in Gaza, and they took control of it. Reportedly, they killed all the Palestinian Authority Government officials and started launching rockets into Israel. He asserted that their primary objective is to destroy Israel, and as per the Hamas covenant, which explicitly states that Israel has to be destroyed.
In their media, they declare that they welcome the Shahids (martyrs) and are indifferent if their own civilians die in that process. Further, he stated that there has been no reported instance in the past two years when a Gaza resident has saved the life of the hostages captured by Hamas. Apart from that, 3000 Gazans came with the Hamas terrorists on the 7th of October in Israel to loot and steal.
Furthermore, discussing how the PA incentivizes and inculcates a violent mindset among its citizens, he informed about the various incentives they offer to the civilians, such as the Pay for Slay program, in which any individual who does any harm to an Israeli citizen or Israel, the family member of that person will be given a lifetime salary every month.
Towards the end of the briefing, Arjun Hardas addressed the radicalization among Palestinian kids, noting that even schools, there is an evident emphasis on fostering animosity towards Israelis within their educational curriculum. He cited an example that he has seen in the textbooks of young school children, which presented an exercise comparing the choice that if they have one Israeli individual in one hand and three Snakes in the other, whom they would kill first, illustrating the alarming radicalization among youth.
In his closing remarks, he commented on the issue of radicalization in Europe, observing that the immigrants are not able to assimilate into European society, contributing to regional destabilization and chaos.
