Two elderly women that had been kidnapped by Hamas on Oct 7th were released. Hamas continues to hold over 200 others captive. Why release these 2 now? My analysis from yesterday seems to provide the answer, and it was confirmed in an interview I just watched on Sky News of Hamas spokesman Khaled Mashaal. The reporter asked questions about Hamas murderers intentionally killing civilians which Mashaal consistently avoided answering. Instead he tried to blame Israel, and the ‘occupation’. Mashaal brought up Palestinian deaths from the last few days as if it were an excuse for what his terrorist did BEFORE there was any Israeli reaction, and he did so over and over. He tried to say that the pictures and videos of what was done then were all Israeli lies. It was interesting to see him attempt to excuse the criminal acts of the people he was instrumental in sending on that savage operation to a western journalist who was NOT part of the media controlled by the Hamas organization. I thought he failed miserably, but I’m sure others might, unfortunately, have given some credit to what he said.
The release of 2 more kidnap victims, even when not accompanied by any quid pro quo demands, serves terrorists by reminding us that they still have more hostages. One of them is the elderly husband of one of the women just released. The drop by drop release of hostages is actually holding up a IDF ground incursion while other countries try to recover hostages (some from their own countries) via diplomatic means. They obviously feel that the longer they can drag this on the better their chances for survival. Releasing a captive as a ‘humanitarian’ gesture, and ones who may even report on decent treatment in captivity, is just a way to shift attention away from the fact that the kidnapping, itself, was the crime that started everything that followed. We cannot forget that the terrorists were the ones who kidnapped those people to begin with. Israel and the US are still asking for the immediate and unconditional release of ALL hostages.
There is no real justification, humanitarian or otherwise, for calling for a cease-fire that will be followed by negotiations to resolve any underlying problems. Every previous spasm of violence with Hamas has followed that pattern. There have never been direct negotiations because Hamas won’t talk to Israel. They want others to do the work for them, while they remain unfettered by any agreement that would make them recognize Israel or establish a recognized border. So far, this war has followed the same pattern on their side.
Wetherhorn 