Thirteen Israeli hostages released
Here’s a list, along with photos and short bios. The list is heavy on elderly women and lighter than I expected on children. One of the released hostages was Hana Katzir, 76, who had previously been reported by Hamas to have died. Also released were ten Thais and one Filipino, almost certainly all of them workers who got swept up in the terrorists’ giddy embrace of power over the helpless.
You may recall that slightly over 20% of the hostages are Thai workers, so most of them remain in captivity or are deceased. I doubt Hamas cares much if at all about holding them, compared to the value of holding Israelis. Why these ten? I have no idea.
Last night I watched video indicating that experts in psychological trauma are waiting for the hostages, including of course the children. The hostages’ trauma is complex, and includes great deal more than “merely” being held in captivity by Hamas. For many, it includes having seen parents and/or siblings murdered in cold blood in front of them. For many, it will include going back to relatives other than their parents, and/or discovering that many of their friends and acquaintances are now dead.
Hamas and Gazans will, of course, call this a victory for Hamas, and celebrate the release of terrorists from Israeli prisons as heroes.
Last night I also watched this Caroline Glick video in which she and a guest discussed the hostages and the deal for their release. She is very critical of the government’s decision, and one of the things she said several times was that the people of Israel were resolute but the government was weak. But I find that curious, since it appears to me that it is the people who have been focusing on the hostages and pressuring the government for their release – which is understandable, considering the sheer numbers, including many elderly people and vulnerable children. It seems to me that the government was between the proverbial rock and hard place – and that’s just where Hamas wanted them.
I actually had expected the government to agree to an even worse deal than this, given the Shalit precedent. Of course, there’s still time, and a great many hostages who remain.
I am hoping these hostages do well with re-integrating into their families and their lives, and that they become an excellent and invaluable source of actionable information for the Israeli government and military.
Welcome home!
Notice the absence of women 15-35 years of age. Not good.
We’ll see if this changes over the coming days.
I pray for their healing.
I am sure the Israeli Army/intelligence forces will be
talking with these released hostages. They may be able to determine if more are dead. And hope that there is more actionable intelligence on where Hamas is located.
I wish them well, but they have a very long road to recovery. I doubt though that recovery will be 100%
The government of Israel was not just pressured by their people, of course. It seems that every international organization, and a great many countries with no stake, were leaning on them to make a deal.
Hamas may be ultimately doomed, but they once again demonstrated the manner in which Barbarians can put a civilized government in an extraordinarily difficult situation.
It will be interesting to see when, or if, any Americans are released.
I suggested to my wife, that I hope the Israelis implanted tracking chips in each of the prisoners they released, so that they can locate them later. A great benefit would be that the released criminals would likely seek the company of like minded Terrorists, so a strike on the site of a chip could pay big dividends. I know. Just fantasizing.
The identity of those released by Hamas, elderly women an Asian nationals is not accidental. Children will be the last ones released because that extracts the maximum amount of suffering from those the Islamists hate.
The truly evil sadistically revel in the suffering of their victims. That widespread a degree of sadism among a group can only result from an evil ideology.
Quite the sendoff:
Palestinian Civilians Chase and Jeer at Ambulances Driving Israeli Women, Children Hostages Out of Gaza
Moral clarity from Daniel Greenfield:
There Are No Innocent Civilians in Gaza
“It is the people who have been focusing on the hostages and pressuring the government for their release…”
The bulk of Israelis, or just the families & friends of hostages?
I also heard of another group – those related to victims of the terrorists who were not in favor of this prisoner swap.
Seems like both groups need to talk to each other?
Bill K:
There is enormous support in Israel to “bring them home.” They don’t say HOW; just do it. But a rescue operation is almost certainly impossible, as I explained in a previous post in which I compared the situation to Entebbe. Therefore a swap is the only way.
Why is there not a list of where these hostages are located with the palestinians they know exactly wheres it on the demand form?
One group of families petitioned the Court but remember thats whaf the kerfluffle was about.
The government of Israel was not just pressured by their people, of course. It seems that every international organization, and a great many countries with no stake, were leaning on them to make a deal.
Oldflyer:
An important point to consider. I personally prefer Israel pursue a strategy of unconditional surrender as the US demanded of Germany and Japan.
But at that time the US had become the most powerful nation on the planet. Sadly, Israel lacks such an FU position to dictate absolute terms.
Today I read a meaty article at “Foreign Affairs” which analyzes Israel’s challenges at this juncture. Of course, FA is advising diplomatic restraint. I suspect they would no matter what the situation were. However, they make good practical points against marching into Gaza and laying waste, given world opinion and the asymmetric advantages of terrorist warfare.
_________________________________
But Israel does have the power to react to Hamas’s terror attack strategically, and with restraint. Doing so can sap Hamas of much of its power. Given that Hamas designed its attack to stoke an overreaction from Israel, the best thing Israel can do now is to refuse to play into Hamas’s hands.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/hamas-asymmetric-advantage-gaza-cronin
_________________________________
My question — Granted the worldwide pro-Palestine demos look discouragingly strong, but given the horrific nature of the Oct 7 massacre, might it be the Palestinians losing their support?
I would like to think much of the world is noticing that it is the Palestinians and their allies who are supporting genocide, not the Israelis.
Neo, given the enormous support in Israel to bring them home, how does the typical Israeli answer the problem of incentivizing hostage taking?
Israel used to say, “No negotiation with terrorists”. Has the newer generation forgotten what an earlier generation knew?
Of course “the people of Israel want the hostages returned”
That does not mean that they want a cease fire, or protracted, morale-destroying negotiations and PR stunts – as happened in the past, with fewer, less heart-tugging hostages.
I have posted on other threads here that:
1. The “Hostage Family Organization” was immediately hijacked by the hard-Lefties who spent this year trying to overturn the last Israeli elections… they even used their Tel-Aviv campsite as headquarters until some families of hostages objected. More patriotic families that don’t want the war effort to suffer on their behalf have formed their own organization.
2. The “tens of thousands” who marched for the release of the hostages are easily made up of those Lefties, families of hostages, and good-hearted Israelis who want to “do something” – we are in a wave of volunteerism and patriotism here. The numbers protesting for the hostages are dwarfed by the numbers showing up to serve in the army or help in agriculture.
3. In talkbacks and other public forums, opinion skews very strongly against the ceasefire. Many Israelis still remember Gilad Shalit and other situations where (left-leaning) parents used any means necessary to get their loved ones released – at great damage to Israel’s deterrence and security. Which leads to:
So there is valid fear that the secular establishment – which lags the people in switching narratives, as Glick and other commentators point out – will repeat the mistakes of the past and lose the larger war.
I traverse Israel when I travel from my home (over the Green Line) into Tel Aviv… the signage changes significantly. In the outer towns where the center-right majority lives, the signs emphasize victory expressed in terms of Jewish faith and Zionism (“The Nation of Israel Lives” and verses from Psalms) . There is little signage about the hostages.
When one gets into Tel-Aviv the emphasis shifts to completely secular, post-Zionist slogans like “Together we will win” – and large (heart-rending) photomontages with slogans like “Bring them Home”.
Of course we all want to bring them home… but not at any price.
Most Israelis understand that – and are wary of the Left using this issue as a political wedge.
indeed
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1hyj111ba#autoplay
Thanks for the view from Israel, Ben David. Hamas hopes to string out this “pause” indefinitely.
I am very sorry for the remaining hostages and for their families, but Israel must finish the job. As Gen. Sherman said, war is hell.
It begins.
(Actually, it’s already begun…)
“Biden apologized to Muslim-American leaders for questioning death toll from Hamas-linked org…”
https://nypost.com/2023/11/26/news/biden-apologized-to-muslim-american-leaders-for-questioning-death-toll-from-hamas-linked-org-report/
Of course the headline SHOULD be:
“Biden apologized to Muslim-American leaders for questioning death toll from SEASONED LIARS…”
Gonna get REAL ugly.
+ Bonus:
Makin’ choices.
“NY Public Library facing $75K cleanup after ‘shameful act of vandalism’ by pro-Palestinian protesters”—
https://nypost.com/2023/11/26/metro/ny-public-library-facing-75k-cleanup-after-pro-palestinian-protesters-vandalism/
Some good news
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1728914649645818118