It’s been 458 days since the October 7, 2023, inhuman massacre of 1200 people in Israel by Hamas terrorists, and kidnapping of 251 people, 100 of whom are still being held in captivity in Gaza. Especially for those most directly impacted, it’s been 458 days of unimaginable terror, pain, abuse, loss, grief, and suffering. But all of Israel has been experiencing trauma since, something that I describe as Present Traumatic Stress Disorder. For most of us, Post Trauma is still far off.
Today a step toward that may have been taken. Media outlets are reporting on a list of 34 hostages to be released as part of a proposed deal with Hamas has been published, with claims that this is the list Israel has insisted on as the first hostages to be released as part of a “deal” that is in the works, and claims that Hamas has approved the list. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has disputed this reporting, but it nevertheless continues to be a primary topic of discussion in Israeli media.
The list reportedly includes two children, 10 women, 11 older men, and 11 men aged under 50. It includes Israeli Jews, Arabs, and foreign nationals. The list includes the beautiful red-headed boys Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were kidnaped together with their mother when Kfir was just 10 months old and Ariel two.
As I write, I am glued to the TV, following the latest developments and speculation, which is happening at the same time as the latest shooting attack by Palestinian Arab terrorists, who killed three and injured nine others. This is just another sobering reminder that all the terrorists’ goals are to kill as many Israelis as possible, and that Hamas and other terrorists are at best making a short-term deal that they perceive in their interests, not changing their genocidal antisemitic goals.
Publicity of the list raises hopes for families of the 34, leaving the families of the remaining 66 hostages (and the hostages themselves) added stress, not knowing about their loved ones.
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Publicity of the list also raised expectations in Israel. For all of us the release of ALL the hostages has been a national priority. Releasing these names, among other details that have trickled out, also prepares Israel for the hard part that will be most widely debated, even protested: the release of an undisclosed number of Hamas terrorists. There have been reports of hundreds. These will be hardened terrorists with blood on their hands, guilty of murdering Israelis, and who, no matter the crimes they committed, have been treated humanely during their incarceration. The same cannot be said on their end.
Recently, Israel released a comprehensive report to the U.N. documenting abuse and actual crimes that were committed by the terrorists against the hostages who were released in December 2023, and others who were rescued since. The abuse has literally been inhuman, and one can only imagine how much worse the 458 days of suffering that the remaining hostages, and their loved ones, have endured all this time.
For those who come home alive, there will be months, or years, of rehabilitation and counseling. In all likelihood, they will never be “normal” again. For those who come home dead, Israel will have to go through the unimaginable process of identifying their remains, the cause of death, and to be sure that their bodies or the coffins in which they may be transported are not booby-trapped. Unthinkable.
It’s hard to imagine massive protests within Israel against a deal that brings home these hostages, but there are several domestic considerations that could impact that. First, the overall revulsion at negotiating with terrorists at all, coupled with an imperative to maximize pressure against Hamas and other terrorists, especially now. Second, as soon as there is a parallel list of terrorists to be released, the family members of the victims will feel betrayed, unsafe, and that they and their loved ones’ suffering has been in vain. Third, nothing in Israel is not political, and even within the current coalition there are loud voices against any deal with Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu needs to balance doing the right thing to bring home as many hostages as possible, with maintaining the viability of his government.
It’s unclear how much resistance he will have from within his own coalition to any deal that releases Palestinian Arab terrorists. It’s also unclear to what extent those in the opposition who have criticized the prime minister and his government robustly for not doing more to get the hostages released, will support the government in doing so despite being opposed to it remaining in power. Such are parliamentary democracies in general, but in Israel these issues are existential, and emotions run deep.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that throughout the war and hostage situation, Hamas was emboldened and backed away from other deals when they perceived that Israel was the subject of serious international diplomatic and other pressure. It’s rare for me to agree with Blinken. I could have told him this would be the case, on October 8, 9, or 10, 2023. This is intuitive and should not be treated as a shocking announcement, but a failure in policy. To the extent that the U.S. or anyone else chose to pressure Israel in a way that emboldened the terrorists, they are also culpable in the long, dragged-out hostage crisis. While there are hopeful signs for some, we cannot forget that the crisis is far from over.
All the imbalanced pressure and public threats toward Israel have backfired. Now, extreme pressure needs to be exerted against Hamas and their genocidal supporters to ensure ALL the hostages will be released. And pray that soon, they and their families and all of Israel can indeed be released.
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