Let’s assume the hostages come home
Caveat: I’ll believe it when I see it.
But let’s assume it really does happen. I hope it really does happen.
The price paid will be the release of an enormous number of terrorists, which Hamas will call a victory. But everyone knows that – at least at this point – the entire last two years has been no victory for Hamas.
That doesn’t mean they’re destroyed and ready to surrender. It does mean, however, that Israel reacted much more aggressively than expected, destroyed their infrastructure and leadership as never before, and may even be starting a process that will dismantle Hamas’ grip on Gaza.
Ah, but doesn’t the release of prisoners by Israel encourage the taking of new hostages? My answer is: no more than what has already happened. There have been many such exchanges already in this war, and the terrorists well know the value of taking hostages. In fact, they well knew it even before October 7; that’s why they took so many. It tears Israel apart, and Israel is willing to pay a huge price to get them back.
This time, Hamas also paid a huge price.
Part of that price is that many of Hamas’ Arab and Iranian sponsors may not be quite as keen in the future about dumping tons of money into Hamas coffers. This time, they themselves paid a big price – and I’m not talking about just money.
The return of the hostages will help Israel heal. The Netanyahu-haters, much like the Trump-haters, will never give Netanyahu credit and will continue to try to destroy him. But much of Israel will heave a huge sigh of relief.
And then there’s the worldwide Jew-hatred that’s been unleashed. Note that I say “unleashed” rather than “created.” I think it was there all the time, and was exhibited even on October 8, before Israel retaliated for October 7. The left, Iran, China, the UN, many Middle Eastern countries, academics world round, the press, and NGOs have been pushing it for decades. It will remain a big problem, but without the war to give it constant fuel, I think its expression will die down somewhat.
I’ll close with this from Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Let us pray that Isaiah’s vision is what happens.
Given Mossad’s prodigious capability for confounding Hamas and Hezbollah with their incredible dirty tricks, I’m wondering if they might be returning the 2,000 terrorists with a little something extra. I’m sure in the time they’ve held them, they’ve found a way to put trackers on them, maybe even subcutaneously.
Or perhaps they’ve bypassed keeping an eye on Hamas and gone straight to injecting them with something slow-acting, which will lead to a coincidentally high death rate for prisoners released in say, six months or so. You don’t want to release terrorists with giving them their immunizations, after all.
We’ll be on tenterhooks to see if the hostages really are released next Monday or Tuesday, which God grant.
I scarcely dare to hope, but this seems real.
And it was verse 1 and part of verse 2 that Jesus read out of the Torah Scroll in the synagague in Nazareth. He stopped before “the day of vengeance of Our Lord,” but added, “This day this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He knew that vengeance would be forthcoming at the appropriate time. I believe that time is coming shortly. A word to the wise, or as is so often stated in Scripture, “Let him who has ears, hear.”
I’m praying that the peace deal will really work. Getting the hostages out first is very important. If Hamas backs down at some later point, at least the hostages are home.
I’m skeptical but hopeful. Even if it’s a short period of peace, lives will be spared, and maybe some minds will change.
Robert Spencer adds a dose of reality:
https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2025/10/09/gazans-celebrate-peace-deal-with-a-chant-that-should-raise-eyebrows-but-wont-n4944683
Another Bible passage from a more obscure prophet that I found interesting:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%202&version=ESV
Technical note: I needed to do the Refresh thing this evening to bring up the posts after Open Thread.
Again I’ll believe it when I see it. I hope it happens but……
I remain doubtful too, but one news show mentioned that the highest levels of Hamas, ensconced in Qatar, are for the deal.
Hamas, as well as Hezbollah, Houthis and Iran, have taken a terrible pounding. Not quite Dresden level, but still ferocious.
It’s hudna time!
For a pessimistic look:
Bring the Hostages Home. Everything Else is a…
If releasing 1,000s of terrorists means bringing the hostages home, do it. But don’t expect peace, expect more wars and a worse Oct 7th — and a world celebrating the death of Jews even louder.
https://khmezek.substack.com/p/bring-the-hostages-home-everything
Yes I will believe it when they get home too. I really think some will still not be know tjeir whereabouts. Worst the most. if not all be very broken people.
I sincerely hope Hamas, Inc. and their supporters have seen the light, but I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, I’ll gladly accept the prospect of peace and offer the benefit of doubt.
It would, however, not surprise me – at all – were the peace deal to be concluded, officially and completely, and Hamas, in the near future, return to committing attacks and atrocities; leopards can’t change their spots and all that.
Should that happen – and I sincerely hope it does not – a Rubicon will have been crossed; it will establish, beyond merely “reasonable doubt,” but any doubt at all, that Hamas et al cannot be allowed to exist, in any form whatsoever, that not only must it be destroyed, the people who support it must be destroyed, completely and utterly but the idea of it must be destroyed and made so toxic that wherever it may present itself produces instant and complete destruction.
Evil cannot be tolerated; to do so, under whatever guise men may create, is of itself Evil, and tolerating any of it is the equivalent of tolerating all of it. That may sound harsh, but the question must be: “How much Evil do I find acceptable?”