Clear With The Hostages ?

(Clear With The Hostages ?)

The "agreement" between the Israel and Hamas over the release of captives taken October 7th. There has been an amnesty granted to about twenty-four Israelis in exchange for over forty Palestinians. Not quite a sense of balance but that was a condition of the terror group. Which has now delayed future cross-border actions because Israel has not been as forthcoming on relief aid. At least according to Hamas.

That is missing the point, however. Either four day cease fire is in place, or it is not. If it is not, then Israel is clear to resume operations. Hamas has been under the impression that because of its global support, a gesture of a hostage release one on humanitarian grounds, women and children, the elderly. But that process is being paused. So, if the cease fire is no longer in effect, what would be next steps ?

A cease fire as the one implemented was a problematic idea for reasons already discussed. Now that the pause itself is being paused, the original logic for the implementation. What this episode confirms, however, is that well known maxim that diplomacy will never achieve what cannot be achieved on the battlefield. Hamas attempted a diplomatic "maneuver" and for a short period, hostages have been freed.

If that endeavor is at an end, the best way going forward on securing the captives would be for the IDF to destroy Hamas. Like a caged bear, the Palestinian terror group is not something one can reason with and the recent cease fire was more for public consumption than an actual attempt to retrieve hostages. Terrorists know how to play public relations because they are aware that there is a large anti-Zionist sentiment and those who prefer that Israel not exist in the first place.

Israel then has nothing to lose. Sound military necessity is dictating future action and that is the continuation of the Gaza penetration and attrition of Hamas combat power. The sooner that objective is complete, weeks or months, that will secure any hostage better than trying to talk with a caged bear, who is just likely to bite.