Maajid Nawaz: “This is a regional problem, with proxy terrorist militia operating regionally, operating across these borders from Lebanon into Syria to squash the uprising there, the same Hezbollah that to Israel’s north is standing ready in case there’s a regional conflict…So as a result, there can be no lasting solution to this until we solve that regional riddle… this is your hand. If you’re trying to understand the region, this is the hand you’ve been dealt with. This is the mosaic of complications involved. So if you understand it like this, you realise there can be no separate peace with Hamas or Hezbollah if they’re controlled by Iran and with Islamic Jihad if they’re controlled by Assad in Syria. Which means that, in fact, the real conversations need to be happening between Israel, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, and now I’m gonna bring in Egypt. Why? Because Gaza shares a border with Egypt and the blockade is enforced against Gaza, not just by Israel, but also by Egypt.
…So what we really need is Israel, Egypt, Iran, and Syria, and finally, I’ll add Saudi Arabia, without which pretty much not much can happen in the Middle East, to be having these multilateral discussions led by President Biden in the United States. And ultimately, yes, in that context, Israel should talk to Hamas. It won’t make any sense in talking to Hamas when you understand they key players here, are bigger than Hamas.”