Diplomacy Fails With Terrorists: Expert Says Israel Must Not Leave Gaza

Newsmax contributor Bryan Leib delivered a clear-eyed assessment of the situation in Gaza, declaring that diplomacy simply does not work with terrorists. Speaking on the network, Leib argued that Israel cannot reasonably be expected to withdraw from the territory while Hamas remains armed with thousands of fighters, RPGs, machine guns, and other weapons. “We’re expecting diplomacy to work—and then hold—with terrorists. It’s never going to happen,” he said. The comments cut through ongoing debates about potential ceasefires and troop pullbacks.

Leib’s position reflects a growing consensus among strong supporters of Israel that Hamas is not a rational or reliable negotiating partner. The group has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to violence and its rejection of Israel’s right to exist. Any arrangement that leaves Hamas intact and armed would, according to this view, simply set the stage for future attacks and another round of conflict. Forcing Israel to leave under those conditions would amount to rewarding terrorism and undermining the country’s hard-won security gains.

The bottom line, as Leib framed it, is straightforward: Israel should not face international pressure to abandon positions in Gaza while the terrorist organization that started the current war remains a functioning military threat. Complete demilitarization of Hamas must come first. Until that fundamental condition is met, calls for withdrawal risk repeating the mistakes of the past and endangering both Israeli civilians and the broader regional stability that depends on defeating terrorist groups rather than accommodating them.