The celebrations at the return of Israel’s hostages are deeply heartfelt, although somewhat muted. Most Israelis recoiled in horror – although without surprise – at the chaotic scenes which accompanied the release of the eight hostages freed Thursday – three Israelis and five Thai nationals – as unruly gangs of heavily armed men wearing balaclavas jostled the frightened and bewildered (almost) former hostages.
Israelis are also keenly aware of the steep price the country has paid – and will continue to pay – in blood and treasure for the hostages’ release, including the freeing of hundreds – at this stage, although if all the phases are complete the final figure will be closer to 2,000 – of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were handed down life sentences for the murder of literally dozens of Israelis. The agreement to set free prisoners with blood on their hands for some, but not all of the hostages, has been called a “deal;” although it would be more accurate to describe it as a “shakedown.”
The level of this extortion also provides a great number of questions, many without satisfactory answers. There are uncomfortable truths, which need to be examined, in the full knowledge another war between Hamas and Israel is extremely likely – and may well emanate from the increasing tensions in Judea and Samaria – irrespective of the lengthy and costly efforts to rebuild Gaza.
How is it Hamas seems able to be at the forefront of the claims of “genocide” against Israel – so much so that its current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its former defense minister Yoav Gallant are wanted by the International Criminal Court, charged with war crimes among other things – and at the same time seem to be declaring victory simply because it was not destroyed? It is here Netanyahu must take some of the blame, for asserting Hamas’ complete destruction was one of the war aims. From this point of view, the Hamas coordinated circus which is the hostage release, is a very public poke in the prime minister’s eye, a visceral reminder of its failure.
And why does there seem to be a tacit assumption, despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s pronouncement earlier this week about Hamas never being able to govern the Gaza Strip again, it is doing just that? It is coordinating the hostage releases, its leadership is communicating with mediators, it seems to be calling the shots. Doesn’t this seem a bad and untenable look for an organization which is no longer supposed to be in charge?
Why is the Red Cross among other so-called humanitarian or human rights organizations silent and inert when it comes to the hostages – both Israeli and foreign. From the evidence it doesn’t seem like they have tried to visit the hostages once, even when medicines were arranged to be sent for those who were in desperate need of it. What makes Hamas so special – and protected – when people are kidnapped from Israel the usual rules simply do not apply?
And why were Western countries – particularly the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada – so meek when it came to demanding the return of its dual-national citizens? Is it something about the dual nationality in general, or because the other nationality was Israeli? Even Russia, which has recently asked for assurances from Hamas about the condition of its dual-nationality hostage Sahsa Trufanov, could presumably have exerted significant pressure on any of Hamas’ financiers to secure his release. And yet, Moscow did no such thing. It is only Thailand – prior to the November release of 23 of its nationals – which seems to have leveraged every avenue it could to have as many of its people as possible freed.
And what about the Vatican? Pope Francis reportedly sends WhatsApp messages to Gaza’s tiny Christian population via Father Gabriele Romanelli on a daily basis, but he is incapable of holding Hamas to account and demanding from his pulpit the immediate release of civilians, including women and children? Eighty years on from the liberation of Auschwitz and once again those at the top of the Catholic Church are covering themselves in ignominy when it comes to attempting to save Jews.
This whole rotten situation has also highlighted the sham of the United States’ relationships with its other so-called allies in the Middle East – in particular Turkey, a NATO member, Egypt, and Qatar. Is the international community and the human rights groups so beholden to the Muslim Brotherhood, and no doubt other nefarious backers such as the Open Society Foundation? Will the Trump administration review this cozy arrangement. Turkey and Qatar have provided succor for Hamas for years, allowing its leaders to live in exile a life of gilded opulence, while those remaining in Gaza mostly live a meager existence. And what of Egypt, under whose porous border Hamas was able to smuggle so much of its weaponry via the Philadelphi Corridor?
Hamas and its Western defenders may point to Israel’s ground offensive as a reason for not releasing more hostages, except this belies two simple facts; there was no invasion between Oct. 7 to Oct. 27, and because it was only the decimation of Hamas’ leadership and forces, which forced it reluctantly to the negotiating table. But its incentive structure is perverse and anyone with a modicum of common sense will recognize the value this mob of psychopaths sees in causing untold destruction on “its people,” as well as kidnapping the innocents of the hated enemy it wishes to destroy.
World Net Daily Rephrased By: InfoArmed