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Ceasefire Deal Will Prevent Hostages from Coming Home

(Gatestone Institute) Bassam Tawil - The aim of the execution of six Israeli hostages by Iran-backed Hamas was to shock the Israeli public and convey to the Biden administration the need to increase pressure on Israel to accede to most of Hamas's demands. The Hamas leaders see the ongoing tensions between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government as an encouraging development. It has long been the dream of Hamas and many Palestinians to see the U.S. turn its back on Israel. In any hostage deal, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct. 7 atrocities, will not release all the hostages at once. He will continue to physically surround himself with many of them to ensure that Israel does not kill him. Even if Hamas were to initially release 10 or 20 hostages as part of any agreement, who could ensure that the remaining captives would be released? Are we supposed to take Hamas's word for it? Are we supposed to believe that the Americans, Egyptians and Qataris would be able to force Hamas to comply with the terms of any agreement? Hamas is only interested in a deal that would keep it in power and make Israel lose the war. The hostages-ceasefire negotiations have broken down because of insufficient pressure from the Biden administration on Hamas's patrons in Qatar.
2024-09-03 00:00:00
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