The ceasefire that is now in force between Israel and Hamas has left many supporters of Israel aghast. For It was the IDF that had battered Hamas, not the other way round, yet Israel found itself having to sue for peace, granting Hamas concession after concession and leaving the terror group able to claim that it is still standing. Israel has agreed in this first phase to pull the IDF forces from Gaza’s main cities, including Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, thus allowing Hamas operatives inside those cities to reappear from their hideouts, both above and below ground, to regroup, rearm, and also to recruit new members. Israel has agreed to give up the east-west Netzarim Corridor, which allowed the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives moving from south to the north, or north to south of the Strip, in attempts to evade IDF attacks that focus now on one, and now on another part of Gaza. Israel will also withdraw its forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, along the Egypt-Gaza border, which has allowed the IDF to prevent weapons from being smuggled from the Sinai into Gaza.
Veteran Israeli journalist Nadav Shragai discusses the lopsided — in both quantity and quality — hostage-for-criminal exchange that Israel has agreed to here: “Why the Hamas Deal Could Lead to More Hostage Taking — And Why No One Is Talking About It,” JNS.org, Jan. 19, 2025:
…Those who insist may naively believe that after the deal, we can resume the war against Hamas at our discretion. However, we must simultaneously recognize the deal’s devastating repercussions and damage.
It is imperative to cling to the truth, no matter how painful, and to pose relevant questions—questions we have long avoided. We must confront the harsh realities we have whitewashed and repressed. This reckoning must occur now, mere moments before the first phase of the deal, and only then can we make an informed decision.
We must question aloud why the discourse surrounding the deal’s cost has focused for months solely on Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor (on the southern border with Egypt), the Netzarim axis (in the middle of the Strip), the return of Gazans to the northern Strip, and the war’s conclusion.
Meanwhile, the release of hundreds of terrorists—hundreds of potential “Sinwars”—remains absent from the conversation, accepted as a fait accompli and an inescapable fate we must simply “deal with” and contain.
We should challenge the assessments of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces that they can “manage” the released terrorists. On the eve of the Shalit deal, they made similar assurances and misjudged the reality.
We must ask them directly: Could you be mistaken again? Might Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar be wrong in 2025, just as Yoram Cohen was in 2011?
It is crucial to remember that since 1985, Israel has released thousands of terrorists through various deals, gestures and diplomatic frameworks. About half of them returned to terrorism and murdered Jews. Hundreds were killed or wounded by these released terrorists long before the Simchat Torah massacre on Oct. 7, 2023….
How many hundreds of Palestinian terrorists that Hamas demands be let loose in this latest, most regrettable exchange, will promptly return to terrorism, and how many Israelis will die as a result? And why did the Israeli leaders not show that they had learned the lesson of the Shalt debacle, and insist that no terrorist murderers should be included in the exchange? They could have listed a number of the most vicious of the killers that Hamas has demanded be freed, such as those responsible for the attack on the Passover service at the Park Hotel in 2001, including Abdullah Barghouti, a bomb expert who was sentenced to 67 life terms; Abbas Sayed, the planner of the Passover Seder, when 30 elderly Israelis were killed and 130 wounded, Ibrahim Hamed, commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Judea and Samaria during the Second Intifada, the man responsible for attacks including the double suicide bombing on Ben-Yehuda Street and at Cafe Moment in Jerusalem, and Ahmed Mughrabi, the Fatah-Tanzim commander in Bethlehem. Imagine the effect of listing these men, and their intolerable crimes, whom Israel is supposed to free but could still appeal to the world’s conscience: “are these people who, if they had been murdering your people in similar ways, you would have agreed to free?”
somehistory says
Exchanging even one criminal, one terrorist, for a hostage, endangers other citizens. sinwar was exchanged and look at the death, rape, torture, he caused.
In one country, there were many kidnappings and ransoms paid for the return of the victims. Families would pay whatever was demanded. The victims would be allowed to go home, but shortly thereafter, would be kidnapped again by the same criminals. It was a business for the criminals.
hamas has learned that they can get Israel to hand over thousands of the terrorists they have caught…and they don’t execute….by kidnapping Jews.
Knowing that a loved one is being held and treated demonically, has to be one of the worst things that can be done to anyone. But knowing that the loved one is being exchanged for a terrorist to be let loose, must also weigh on the hearts and minds of the innocent.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Somehistory.
Moshe says
The Knesset needs to pass a death penalty law Now. If I were an Israeli and they failed to do so after the horrors of October 7th, I would emigrate. What is the point of living in a country that is more dangerous for Jews than any other in the world?
Tony says
Islam is a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION as taught in the Quran(Quran 8:12; 9:29, 111; 49:15 and more). More specifically, Islam is a Muslim Terrorist Ideology and Criminal Organization of discrimination, segregation, supremacy, genocide, polygamy, deceit, hatred, incitement, sedition, rape, terrorism, and violence against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran. Fundamentally, Islam is a Terrorist Criminal Enterprise. The FRUIT of Islam is WAR, terrorism, discrimination, and violence against all Non-Muslims; this FACT must be taught and broadcast to the general public to prohibit Islam, its Mosques, and its Schools. Furthermore, there is NO EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW in Islam or in Islamic Law.
Non-Muslims CANNOT have peace with Islam and its Muslims because Islam and its murderous god, Allah, demand a continuous, Muslim war against unbelievers where Non-Muslims are CRIMINALS under Islam as Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” HENCE, NON-MUSLIMS MUST MAKE ISLAM, ITS MOSQUES, ITS SCHOOLS, ITS ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW. Similarly, Islam and its many Organizations must be identified and declared to be a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION for their funding, teaching, and support of terrorism, violence, and discrimination against Non-Muslims.
Islam promotes a terroristic, Muslim war against unbelievers when Allah in Qur’an 49:15 says, “Surely the believers are only those who believed in Allah and his messenger. They do not doubt, and they performed JIHAD with THEIR MONEY AND THEIR LIVES for the sake of Allah. Those are the truthful.”
Allah promises Heavenly Paradise to Muslims for acts of Muslim killing in a terrorist war when Quran 9:111 says, “Surely Allah has purchased from the believers[Muslims] their souls and their money so that they may have the garden[Heavenly Paradise]. They engage in war for the sake of Allah, so they kill and are killed…”
Islam champions Muslim acts of slaughter against Non-Muslims for not becoming Muslims as Allah in Qur’an 8:12 says, “When your lord revealed to the angels: ‘I am with you so make firm those who believed[Muslims]. I will cast a terror into the hearts of those who became infidels[Non-Muslims]. So strike above their necks(decapitation), and strike off(chop off) every finger from them.’”
Cynthia says
Terrorists should be shot on site. If they are needed for questioning, the death penalty should be instituted and quickly enforced thereafter. It’s enough of mercy when your enemy is vicious and barbaric.
Both sides need to learn a different lesson.
skeptiker says
Schrecklich. Die Todesstrafe ist einer zivilisierten und souveränen Nation nicht würdig. Das ist ein Rückfall in die Barbarei und stellt uns auf eine Stufe mit Denen, die wir verabscheuen und bekämpfen. Auch Folter wurde mit Recht in unserer modernen, aufgeklärten Welt geächtet.
Bob F says
It is very disappointing. However, in my opinion when (not “if”) the Palestinians-Hamas rearm and attack Israel again, Israel can go in and completely annihilate, destroy and kill all of them. And I mean ALL of them. There will be no more measured responses. And those who dare to criticize Israel will have zero credibility. Not that they had any before this deal, but this will facilitate and add clout to the position that Israel has no choice but wipe all of them off the face of the earth.
gravenimage says
Sadly, even though it is Hamas violating the ceasefire, Israel will be blamed if she defends herself.
The Devil's Trill says
True.
gravenimage says
Trading Innocents for Murderers
……………………………….
Hugh Fitzgerald is right–that is *exactly* what is happening. And as if this were not bad enough, Hamas is not even promising to release all of the hostages, and many more JIhad terrorists are being released by Isael than kidnap victims by Hamas.
Then, the Jihad terror attacks of 10/7–including the taking of these hostages–was plotted by Jihadists previously released by Israel to get back kidnap victim Gilad Shalit. There will be more of the same in future.
Sanjay Tandon says
How many non-Jewish people in Europe today have taken note of the fears of Jews who are planning to leave, who feel they cannot live safely in the countries they have inhabited for many centuries.
Growing antisemitism that is encouraged and spread mainly by Muslims migrants, is the main cause of Jews thinking of leaving Europe.
Three-quarters of British Jews say that they “no longer feel safe” in the UK.
In France, things are no better. The Chief Rabbi of the Great Synagogue of Paris, Moshe Sebbag, recently called for Jews to leave, telling his flock that “there is no future for Jews in France. I tell all young people to go to Israel or to a safer country.”
The Chief Rabbi of Barcelona, Meir Bar Hen, also invited the Jews to pack their bags. “This place is lost. Better to leave sooner rather than later”. Our community “is condemned” both because of radical Islam and the reluctance of the authorities to confront it. “I encouraged them (the Jews) to buy a house in Israel.”
“The Jews have no future in Europe,” echoed Avraham Gigi, Chief Rabbi of Brussels.
Millions of Muslims in the continent will be glad to have pushed out the Jews, and are hoping to complete their demographic conquest of Europe by decreasing the number of Christians remaining as well.
Today its the Jews tomorrow it will be the Hindus. According to some calculations, one in four Europeans will be Muslim by 2100 and large cities will be predominantly Muslim within 10-15 years.
Wake up before it’s too late