EJ KIMBALL: It’s Time To Finally Shutoff Terrorists’ Operational Spigot

President Donald Trump is taking on Shiite radicalism by restoring his maximum pressure campaign against Iran and militarily targeting the Houthis in Yemen. But the international community has repeatedly failed to take decisive action against Sunni jihadism. A comprehensive approach that targets both the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots like Hamas and the network that enables their existence must be adopted. Anything less will condemn the world to a perpetual cycle of violence and instability.

On October 7, 2023, we witnessed an orgy of the most grotesque sadism imaginable. Young women were raped and mutilated, babies were burned alive, entire families were slaughtered. Now marchers on the streets of Europe and American college campuses yearn to “globalize the intifada.” This must be stopped; the time for half measures is over. 

One of the most glaring failures in the past decades has been the practice of merely exiling terrorist leaders. Yasser Arafat, Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashaal were pushed out of their respective territories, only to find new havens in other countries where they continued to foment violence.

Countries that host these monsters or provide material support for their operations should be treated as terror-supporting entities, not allies. This includes known adversaries like Iran, but even purported allies like Qatar and Turkey. 

The international community must stop the pretense and hold such countries accountable by cutting off all security arrangements, withdrawing trade preferences and imposing sanctions. The United States, as a global leader, has the power to enforce such measures.

Qatar, in particular, continues to host Hamas officials, even as the group holds American hostages. The U.S. should apply economic and diplomatic pressure to Qatar—maybe even put military equipment sales on hold—until they end their support for Hamas. Such a strategic shift would radically improve the security paradigm in the Middle East. 

Thankfully, we have a muscular ally in the region who is willing to invest both blood and treasure and whose interests are fully aligned with the United States.

Israel is obviously at the forefront of efforts to neutralize Hamas’s military capabilities. The Israeli military must continue its operations in Gaza, not just to bring Hamas to the negotiating table, but to thoroughly dismantle its infrastructure and ensure that the organization cannot simply “ride out” the conflict. This includes continuing its targeted strikes eliminating Hamas leaders.

Moreover, in keeping with Trump’s plan for Gaza, Israel should be annexing the territory it secures. Such a move would be a clear signal that there are real consequences for those who attack Israel, and it would demonstrate a commitment to long-term security in the region. 

Israel’s actions should not be confined to Gaza alone. If Hezbollah in Lebanon continues its aggression, Israel must be prepared to take similar action there, ensuring that there are no safe havens for Iran-backed terrorists in the region. Indeed, Israel is the only actor, other than the U.S. itself, that can establish security and guard American interests in the region.

Unfortunately, the terrorist support network extends far beyond the Middle East, with organizations in the West—including in the United States—providing financial, logistical and political support. One of the most prominent examples is the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization linked to Hamas through its leadership. 

In the 2008 Holy Land Foundation trial, the Justice Department presented evidence that CAIR founders, Nihad Awad and Omar Ahmad were leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas in the U.S., and the group was named an unindicted co-conspirator. Yet, despite these connections, CAIR has continued to operate in the United States, holding influence in political and social circles, and propagandizing college students and social media users.

The U.S. must take a firm stand, designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization as the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have done. We must deny them any financial or legal support, barring them from public office, universities and any positions of influence, and ensuring that their operations are thoroughly scrutinized by law enforcement. 

The U.S. and its allies must follow the money trail and shut down the entire support network that sustains terrorist organizations, keeping them from raising and moving money, recruiting fighters, acquiring weapons or supplies. This includes targeting both state sponsors like Iran and private entities that provide funds under the guise of charity. 

The quote often attributed to Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” is particularly relevant in the context of the Middle East. Repeated ceasefires and negotiations without addressing the root causes of the violence have yielded little success.

It’s time to stop the insanity and move beyond conventional, ineffective strategies. By pressuring state sponsors, targeting financial networks and employing decisive military action, the international community can crush the terrorist threat in a critical but volatile region. The consequences of inaction are too great to ignore, and the time to act is now. The fight against the global jihadist movement is not just a battle for the Middle East; it is a global struggle for peace, security and human dignity.

EJ Kimball is the director of Policy and Strategic Operations at the U.S. Israel Education Association and a foreign policy and national security consultant.