Everyone is asking the same question: How long? How long is it going to take to wipe out Hamas? How long is it going to take for Israel to take over Rafah and find our hostages and kill Sinwar and Deif? How long?

Our Prime Minister, while trying to be upbeat and sound determined, doesn’t really know. Today he said that the plans for the evacuation of the civilians from Rafah have been drawn up. The military strategy to conquer Rafah is in place. When the government decides to do it, it will be done. He reminded us that when the Americans didn’t want Israel to go into Gaza, we went in. And now, when the Americans don’t want us to go into Rafah, we will go in as well.

What can I say? He sounded very sincere, and I have no reason not to believe him. As far as the Americans are concerned, our PM has made no bones about it: there are disagreements. Many disagreements. The present administration seems determined to save Hamas from total destruction. Why is anyone’s guess. Why America, who was determined to destroy ISIS, should want to preserve and protect Hamas, is unfathomable. Unless the Squad of anti-American, anti-Jewish, pro-Palestinians in Congress, and the far Left wing of the Democratic Party, demands it. It has been suggested that because that part of the Democratic Party isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, that America is no longer a reliable friend to the people of Israel. I would hate to believe that, although I do think, after Schumer’s disgraceful speech denouncing our PM, the Democratic Party cannot be trusted and Jewish votes should seek a better home. By the way, this week Netanyahu asked Schumer to speak to Democratic senators, and was refused. Republicans, however, are considering inviting him to address Congress.

Another problem that has surfaced with the Americans is the port Israel has agreed to allow them to build in Gaza to bring in humanitarian supplies. Now it seems, this is going to be a joint American-Qatari project, which is a dream situation for Hamas! Qatar, one of Hamas’ main financiers and political supporters, which is home to Hamas’ billionaire leaders, is not a neutral player here. For the life of me, I cannot understand what Biden is trying to accomplish by sending Iran billions, pressuring Israel to stop fighting, and embracing Qatar. It sounds more like the actions of an enemy than a friend. And if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck….

 While we wait, it’s not as if Israel is sitting on its hands. Hundreds of the terrorists that decided to reoccupy Shifa Hospital have been killed and cap tured, among them Mahmoud Kawasme, mastermind and financier of the June, 2014 Gush Etzion abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. The victims, Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaer, and Naftali Fraenkel, were Israeli students aged 16 and 19. Kawasme, who was released in 2011 from a 20-year sentence in an Israeli prison for his role in a 2004 suicide attack in Beersheba was exiled to Gaza as part of the Gilad Shalit deal. Kawasme’s brothers, both killed by the IDF, were the actual killers. The brothers asked for and received $61,000 from Hamas in small envelopes delivered to their mother in Hebron to buy the murder weapons, vehicle and burial plot for the teenagers. His parents home was blown up by the IDF. His brothers were killed by the IDF, and now he has been captured. I hope this gives some peace to the Yifrachs, Shaers, and Fraenkels.