Hamas and Hezbollah: The Best of Both Worlds?

When is a terror group not a terror group? Well, according to much of the international community, it’s all about rebranding! Welcome to the strange world where lobbing rockets and hosting fundraisers somehow coexist—like a bizarre potluck where you can bring both hummus and a militia.

Take Hezbollah. One day, they’re firing rockets into Israel, and the next, they’re helping old ladies cross the street (if that street is suspiciously close to an arms smuggling route). For decades, Lebanon has lived under Hezbollah’s dual identity: on one hand, the kindly neighborhood “social service provider,” and on the other, the political leader who’s basically a Bond villain with slightly worse tailoring. Now that Nasrallah’s gone, Lebanon has a shot at reclaiming its sovereignty—unless someone confuses Hezbollah’s “community outreach” for legitimate political leadership again.

Meanwhile, Hamas followed a similar script in Gaza. Since the late 1980s, they’ve played the long game, intertwining politics with terror in a way that’s bafflingly effective. To some, they’re the providers of aid and stability. But don’t let the humanitarian façade fool you—those tunnels under Gaza weren’t dug to provide free Wi-Fi. Hamas’s militant wing used them to store weapons and launch attacks against Israel while hiding under the pretext of “political resistance.”

Hamas’s leadership, of course, doesn’t help the illusion. The Western world treats its “political wing” like it’s running for city council while ignoring the fact that its military wing is basically running a military campaign from Gaza. When Yahya Sinwar, whose violent past speaks for itself, was promoted to political leader, the international community shrugged: “At least he’s a politician now.” Cue facepalm.

And so, Israel is busy cleaning house—literally. The IDF just sealed a massive 250-meter Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon, complete with weapons, command centers, showers, and a kitchen. Apparently, Hezbollah’s underground strategy is less about covert warfare and more about extreme camping. The tunnels were part of Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces infrastructure, showing that you can build an entire terror complex underground, but somehow still avoid calling a plumber.

And just when you thought international diplomacy couldn’t get any stranger, here comes French President Emmanuel Macron, calling for an arms embargo on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly responded, calling the idea a “disgrace.” As Netanyahu pointed out, Israel is defending itself on seven different fronts: Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. “As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran,” he said, “all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side.”

And just when you thought international diplomacy couldn’t get any stranger, here comes French President Emmanuel Macron, calling for an arms embargo on Israel.

It’s hard to miss the irony. While Israel contends with terror groups digging underground complexes fit for a survivalist retreat, world leaders are busy trying to restrict Israel’s ability to defend itself. Somewhere along the line, the narrative got flipped, and it’s Israel that’s being pressured to show restraint.

Then, of course, there’s Donald Trump, ever the master of escalation. In response to Iran’s first-ever all ballistic missile barrage against Israel on October 1—Trump had some choice advice: “Hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later.” His response stood in sharp contrast to President Joe Biden’s more measured approach, calling for proportionality. I’m unsure what that means.

President Donald Trump & Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu

While Trump’s remark may add a new layer of tension, Israel’s focus remains on unmasking the dangerous duality of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s underground network, recently unearthed and sealed by the IDF, is a perfect example of how these groups blend politics and terror. The tunnel system wasn’t just for warfare; it came equipped with showers, kitchens, and food stockpiles. Apparently, Hezbollah is more into “extreme camping” than covert warfare.

And yet, the real problem here is the global insistence on playing along. Treating Hamas and Hezbollah as legitimate political entities, while ignoring their ongoing violent activities, is like negotiating with someone who’s hiding a grenade behind their back. Western governments often turn a blind eye to the fact that the so-called “political leaders” of these groups are often the same people orchestrating attacks.

In Israel’s case, the strategy is clear: expose these organizations for what they are. No amount of political theater can disguise the reality of rockets and tunnels. Until the world stops legitimizing groups that believe in diplomacy by day and rocket launches by night, groups like Hamas and Hezbollah will continue to flourish.

Israel’s strategy of dismantling both the physical and ideological infrastructure of these organizations is crucial. You can’t build peace on the foundations of terror, no matter how many charity drives or schools these groups operate. It’s time for the world to stop playing along and start recognizing these groups for what they are: terror organizations, not misunderstood political movements.