OPINION:
It’s been 458 days since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 people in Israel by Hamas terrorists and kidnapping of 251 people, 100 of whom are still being held in captivity in the Gaza Strip; 458 days of terror, pain, abuse, loss, grief and suffering, especially for those most directly affected.
Israel has been experiencing trauma ever since, something I call present traumatic stress disorder. For most of us, post-traumatic stress disorder is still far off.
Today, a step toward that may have been taken. A list of 34 hostages to be released as part of a proposed deal with Hamas has been published in the BBC and a Saudi newspaper, with claims that this is the list Israel has insisted on as the first hostages to be released as part of a deal, and claims that Hamas has approved the list.
It’s unclear if this is accurate, and it’s unclear from the list who is alive and who is dead. It is noteworthy that if true, this is the first list of hostages from all the hostages in captivity for 458 days that the terrorist group has released. That alone is inhuman.
The list includes two children, 10 women, 11 older men and 11 men under 50. It includes Israeli Jews, Arabs and foreign nationals. The list includes the beautiful redheaded boys Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were kidnapped with their mother when Ariel was only 4 years old and Kfir just 10 months.
I am following the reports and speculation. At the same time, reports of a terrorist shooting attack by Palestinian Arab terrorists that left three dead and nine wounded are a sobering reminder that the terrorists’ goal is to kill as many Israelis as possible and that Hamas and other terrorists are at best making a short-term deal they perceive is in their interest, not changing their genocidal antisemitic goals.
Publicity of the list raises hopes for the families of the 34, leaving the families of the remaining 66 hostages (and the hostages themselves) added stress.
The publicity also raised expectations in Israel, where the release of all the hostages has been a national priority. Releasing these names and other details also prepares Israel for the part that will be debated, even protested: the release of a number of Hamas terrorists. There have been reports of hundreds. These will be terrorists with blood on their hands who killed Israelis, and who, no matter the crimes they committed, have been treated humanely during their incarceration. Nothing of the sort can be said about the conditions of the terrorists.
Recently, Israel released a comprehensive report to the U.N. documenting abuse and 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 been inhuman, and one can only imagine the 458 days of suffering that the remaining hostages and their loved ones have endured.
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 identify their remains and determine the cause of death and ensure that their bodies or the coffins in which they’re transported are not booby-trapped. Unthinkable.
It’s hard to imagine massive protests against a deal that brings home these hostages, but several domestic considerations could affect that. First, the revulsion at negotiating with terrorists, coupled with an imperative to maximize pressure against Hamas and other terrorists.
Second, as soon as there is a parallel list of terrorists to be released, the families of the victims will feel betrayed and unsafe, and that their loved ones’ suffering and their suffering has been in vain.
Third, even within the current coalition in Israel, there are loud voices against any deal with Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 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 his own coalition to any deal that releases Palestinian Arab terrorists. It’s 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 despite being opposed to its remaining in power. Such are parliamentary democracies in general, but in Israel, these issues are existential, and emotions run deep.
Recently, 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 Mr. Blinken. I could have told him this would be the case on Oct. 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. Sign the petition to lend your voice to pressure Hamas and put pressure on the world bodies that it’s only through pressure on Hamas that all the hostages will be released. And pray that soon, all the hostages will be released, and they and their families and all of Israel can indeed be released.
• Jonathan Feldstein is president of the Genesis 123 Foundation, host of the “Inspiration From Zion” podcast and publisher of “Israel the Miracle,” a collection of essays by Christian leaders worldwide regarding why Israel is so important. He can be reached at FirstPersonIsrael@gmail.com.
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