If Israel was to say to Hamas "release the hostages & we'll stop the genocide" or "surrender & we'll end the occupation", scores of Palestinians would flood the streets to press Hamas. But Israel's offer is "give us everything & we'll continue the genocide/apartheid forever... but we'll generously give you a 6-week pause"! If all hostages are released immediately & unconditionally & all Hamas members capitulate, disband, disappear, fly to Mars or kill themselves en masse, Israel says full-throatedly: We will keep occupying, besieging & immiserating Gaza & the West Bank. There will never be a Palestinian state. You will never be free or equal & will never have a normal life. Your destiny is to languish & die rightless, inferior, subjugated, dispossessed & ever terrorized. It is precisely this message that strengthens Hamas in the public's eyes rather than weaken them. B/c it allows Hamas to portray themselves as the last & only barrier between Palestinians & annihilation or permanent subjugation. Especially when no one else is willing to play that role of providing any minimal protection to Palestinians from unconstrained terror or any path towards liberation or basic life; whether the UN, EU, US, Arab League, Asgardians, White walkers... People mindlessly repeating "all this would be over if Hamas surrenders & releases the hostages" should genuinely ask themselves what exactly will be over? Would Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza? allow Gazans to return to the north? lift the blockade? end the occupation/apartheid? negotiation a 2-state solution?