Expect Hamas to scuttle Trump's cease-fire deal - but either way, Israel must still destroy it

President Donald Trump says he’s hoping Hamas will accept his team’s latest proposal for a 60-day cease-fire with Israel as soon as next week — but the terror group’s immediate counter-offer shows why he’s in for disappointment.
Trump reported that Israel has accepted the deal, which would include a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid.
A Hamas official says his group, too, is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement” — but only one that “leads to the complete end of the war.”
Same old, same old: That’s been the terror group’s chief demand from the start.
It wants Israel to permanently halt its operations in Gaza with Hamas left free to rebuild — to eventually attack the Jewish state again.
Israel can let Hamas’ leaders live — but not in Gaza.
Before the war ends, “there will not be a Hamas,” declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. “We’re not going back to that.”
Israel cannot allow any repeat of Hamas’ Oct. 7 slaughterfest.
And with the group’s benefactor, Iran, now severely weakened, there’s no reason for Jerusalem not to finish the job: Force these monsters to cry uncle . . . or destroy them.
Trump warns that if Hamas rejects the deal, “IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE” for the group, but that hasn’t budged the terrorists before.
These bitter-enders may even prefer death.
If they refuse to disarm, that’s exactly what they deserve.
Deal or not.