Read down for the answer.
Dear friends, truly, I get it! It’s a mitzvah to rescue captives, and especially is this so as we are speaking in the main about youngsters. Whose heart would not be glad to see the pictures of those young people embraced by the relatives who had been heartsick about them? Who would not be glad to know that they are now safe?
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Last night, the final group of hostages was released by Hamas according to the agreement that had been struck with Israel: 12 -13 each day for four days, with Israel releasing three terrorists in our prisons for each hostage. That release almost didn’t happen, as Hamas was not adhering to the understanding that families would not be separated.
After delays, a group of 11 hostages – nine children and two mothers, all from Kibbutz Nir Oz – was set free. It is not clear to me why Israel accepted only 11.
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But in any event, this is not the end of the story. With the involvement of the US, a Qatar delegation and the Egyptians, a two-day extension of the agreement was announced last night. Hamas has agreed to release 10 hostages each day and has provided a list of the ten captives to be released tonight; Israel has compiled a list of women terrorists who would be released in return.
What did not escape my attention was that the US, Qatar and Egypt announced this extension before Israel confirmed it. The US, Qatar and Egypt are eager for that extension.
https://www.jns.org/cairo-israel-and-hamas-close-to-two-day-truce-extension/
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Nine Israeli children – six under the age of 18 – remain in captivity. But it appears that not all of them, with their families, will be available to Hamas within the next two days: some are being held by other terror groups and even possibly by some renegade “civilians” not belonging to any terror group. Remember, such “civilians” followed the terrorists into Israel on October 7 and did their own damage.
The news about the Bibas family, parents Yarden and Shiri, four-year-old Ariel, and baby Kfir, who is now 10 months old, is distressing.
They were apparently traded to another terrorist group. Traded? In return for? This is sickening.
It is not altogether clear who is now holding this family. Some reports indicate that it is the PFLP, which is in Rafah, at the far south of Gaza, where the IDF has yet to operate in full strength.
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There are varying reports as to whether or not the two-day extension will be the end of it, and Israel will resume the war on Thursday.
There is some indication that this might be the case, but the situation is enormously fluid. Israel had originally indicated that the temporary ceasefire might last as long as 10 days, provided that Hamas continues to release hostages – children and their families, older people, etc. But there is no firm commitment to that ten days: Israel prefers to take it one or two days at a time and see how the situation evolves.
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But here is the answer I pose above: the war against Hamas is not being fought in order to rescue hostages!!
It is written in Talmud (Sanhedrin 72a-b), “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.”
As much as we have an obligation to rescue captives (and please note, this obligation is not without limits!), there is also an obligation to protect Jewish life.
The bottom line here is that Hamas MUST be destroyed: This must be our priority. We have to believe them when they say that they will come after us again. We cannot allow them to have such an opportunity.
This means we cannot, must not, prolong the “temporary ceasefire” designed to secure the release of hostages to a point at which it interferes with our ability to take out Hamas.
With all of the negotiations, in the end we will have secured fewer than half the hostages being held by Hamas. That number is miniscule compared to the human damage that would be done if Hamas retained strength and came to attack us again. We must have our eye on this first.
Should they attempt to drag out the process, 10 captives released at a time, it would create a delay in resuming the fighting that would not be acceptable.
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Minister of Defense Gallant says that as we attack Hamas, they will be prepared to release more hostages. This is a different, far more acceptable, perspective. Gallant, Netanyahu and Gantz all insist that we will return to fighting. May the Almighty strengthen their spines.
And today (Tuesday) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said:
“The IDF is ready today to continue fighting. We use the days of pause as part of the framework to learn, strengthen our readiness and approve future operational plans.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/381076
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Alex Traiman, CEO and Jerusalem Bureau Chief of JNS, has just put out an analysis that is quite optimistic. He says that Israel is in a strong place. I cite him here (emphasis added):
“…the IDF is one of the world’s strongest militaries. It is absolutely destroying Hamas, with only a portion of its military might. Israel and Hamas both understand well that a four-day pause does little to
change Israel’s overall strategic advantage on the battlefield, even if Hamas manages to regroup and rearm…
“Adding insult to injury for Hamas was a surprise visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the strip on Sunday, where he held situational assessments and met with IDF soldiers that continue to hold their positions.
“Netanyahu’s visit sent clear messages both in Israel and Gaza. First, Netanyahu has not-so-subtly signaled that as the head of the strongest military force in Gaza, he is now the Strip’s sovereign leader. From this point forward, it is Netanyahu who will determine the fate of Gaza, not Hamas.”
https://www.jns.org/at-the-end-of-the-gaza-wars-first-half-israels-position-is-strong/
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From Traiman’s mouth (figuratively) straight to God’s ear!
But there are a couple of points, less optimistic, to make here. Traiman says that a four-day pause does little to change Israel’s strategic advantage. But already two more days have been agreed upon since he wrote, and the concern is an extensive delay.
And then, there is the malignant involvement of the international community, as efforts are being made to prevent Israel from going back to fighting.
The US is a key culprit in this respect, as Biden has his eye on the elections next year and is eager to please the progressive, pro-Muslim and Muslim portion of the electorate.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due here on Thursday with an eye towards extending the ceasefire further. I aim even now, with all of the stress, to retain a professional tone. But the bottom line is that I find Blinken’s visits not only counterproductive but deplorable.
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Just today (Tuesday), in a briefing to the press, a senior administration, said U.S. President Joe Biden and others in his government have “reinforced in very clear language with the government of Israel” that the “conduct of the Israeli campaign, when it moves to the south, must be done in a way that is to a maximum extent not designed to produce significant further displacement of persons.”
Was the US concerned with not displacing civilians in Afghanistan? Rhetorical question.
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If you find this posting lacks a certain clarity, it is because the situation is not only complex but shifting quickly. That is reflected in my writing.
I will note two additional developments here and send this out. More will follow very shortly.
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Hamas broke the ceasefire today, although it claims, naturally, that it is not responsible and remains committed to the ceasefire.
According to the IDF, “three explosive devices were detonated adjacent to IDF troops in two different locations in northern Gaza, violating the framework of the operational pause.” Three soldiers were wounded.
Israeli forces were also fired on in one of the locations.
Our soldiers returned fire.
https://www.jns.org/hamas-attacks-idf-troops-in-gaza-in-violation-of-truce/
And we let this pass?
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The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns, and Israeli Mossad director David Barnea are both in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to discuss the issue of release of Hamas captives. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is also joining the discussion.
A Qatari delegation has also landed in Israel today, for reasons unknown.
This makes me extremely nervous. The way to secure the release of hostages is via a tough military stance on the part of Israel. This sort of discussion – if it is even fruitful with regard to securing release of hostages – would likely entail some major concession to Hamas, either an extended ceasefire or release of large numbers of terrorists in our prisons, including those with blood on their hands.
I can imagine being told, look you got all your hostages back, and you did a lot of damage to Hamas, it’s time to pack it in.
Unless, unless, Qatar, should it wish to, agrees to apply some very significant pressure on Hamas.
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Pray to Heaven for Israel, my friends. Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, the safety of our boys and the rescue of our hostages. Pray with a heart filled with hope, not fear.
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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
