THE CURRENT HOSTAGE DEAL IS A BAD DEAL FOR ISRAEL - Netanyahu caught between a rock and a hard place
By: Joseph Puder
Friday, January 24, 2025
The last few weeks have shown Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be positioned between a “rock and a hard place.” Incoming President Donald J. Trump demanded that Israel accept the deal with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar (qualified enemies of Israel; not exactly impartial mediators) that supposedly would end the war in Gaza and release the hostages. The left-leaning Israeli media, along with some of the families of the hostages, had likewise demanded that a deal be made at all costs. But there were also families of hostages and the families of fallen Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, who wanted a better deal that would bring all the hostages home in one fell swoop deal.
Regrettably, President Trump, “the master of the deal,” endorsed a very bad deal for Israel, and a rather good deal for Hamas. The ratio of innocent Israeli civilians who were kidnapped from their homes and dragged to the notorious Gaza tunnels, including a nine-month old baby and elderly Holocaust survivors who may have been murdered or died of malnutrition or disease (due to lack of medicine and proper food and in terrible living condition), along with some female soldiers, in exchange for nearly two thousand Palestinian terrorist murderers and rapists with blood on their hands, is not only morally repugnant, but dangerous. Ninety-seven Israelis, alive or dead, are to be exchanged for 1904 Hamas and Fatah killers (737 are security prisoners, who are serving multiple life sentences for murder) and will, most certainly return to terrorizing and murdering Israelis. This makes the deal an affront to decency.
The deal struck last week allows Hamas to regain control over the Gaza Strip and, will surely lead to control the 600 daily truckloads of humanitarian aid which translates to revenue for Hamas. Those funds will enable the terror organization to recruit new fighters and homicide bombers, replenish their arms- especially rockets, and rebuild the destroyed tunnels with the aim of kidnapping and murdering Israelis. Hamas might not invade the Gaza envelope communities again but may, instead, launch a coordinated attack from Judea and Samaria. The distance between Qalqilya and Kfar Saba is negligible, as is the distance further west to Raanana (home of Naftali Bennett). The Palestinian killers to be released to Judea and Samaria will more than likely be the vanguard of the attacking force. And there is no doubt that such an attack will take place. Hamas officials have repeatedly vowed that they will commit more October 7th attacks on Israel.
Netanyahu was not eager for such a one-sided deal when President Biden suggested it last year and, fortunately, Hamas turned it down before Israel had a chance to it. Netanyahu could not, however, deny President Trump’s request for the same hostage and an end-of-war deal. The prospect of a subsequent second phase exchange is shrouded in doubt. Hamas may have already murdered the young soldiers or, claim they have no knowledge of their whereabouts. Yet Israel is to be subjected to withdrawing its forces from Gaza after losing more than 400 young and brave IDF soldiers who fought to bring the hostages home while seeking to complete the mission of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities in order to prevent future massacres.
One of the most important duties in Judaism is the concept of “Pidyon Shvuyim” or the Redemption of Captives. Throughout Jewish history Jews went to great lengths to bring back their captives. Netanyahu and his government have a moral duty to bring the captive hostages back home. It is particularly incumbent upon the government of Israel and the IDF chiefs who failed to protect the residents of the Gaza envelope communities to do everything possible to bring them home. But, at what cost and is the price of this deal too steep? Releasing thousands of murderers who in the near future will seek to murder more Israelis makes it a questionable deal. While Israel may save the current hostages this time, how many other Israelis will die at the hands of the released terrorists in a month or a year from now?
How can one forget the Shalit hostage deal of 2011. It is an example of what could happen as a result of the current deal. Israel exchanged 1027 terrorists and killers for Gilad Shalit. One of those released was Yahya Sinwar, who was a chief architect of the October 7 massacre. This current deal will incentivize future hostage taking, since it provides a lucrative return for the terrorists.
According to the agreed upon deal, the release of the remaining 64 hostages, either dead or alive, will be negotiated on the 16th day of the cease-fire, but the return would not begin until the 43rd day of the deal, marking the second phase of the cease-fire. President Donald Trump told reporters in the White House on Monday, (soon after the inauguration) that he is not confident that the Israel’s cease-fire with the Hamas terrorists will hold through all three phases.
The return of Emily Damari, Rome Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher didn’t leave a dry eye in Israel, and perhaps in much of the civilized world. It was a wonderful and blessed moment to see them embraced by their loved ones. Hopefully, seeing the return of all the remaining hostages will warm every human heart. Still, Trump’s rigid demand that Netanyahu finalize the agreement before his inauguration pressured Netanyahu into accepting a deal that mostly benefited Hamas. Had Netanyahu been given few extra days, he could have secured a much better deal.
In the end, the deal can be best seen as akin to the words in the Bible, 1 Kings, 29;19 “Hast thou murdered and also taken possession?” It is a clear reference to Hamas and the outcome of the deal.