Shalom all,

As of this update, the number the IDF death toll since the beginning of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip is 64.

Release of Hostages: According to an article appearing in World Israel News and in the Jerusalem Post , citing a report by the Washington Post this morning, a tentative agreement was reached by Israel, the U.S. and Hamas, for the release of 87 hostages being held by Hamas, in exchange for the release of teenage terrorists and female terrorists presently held in Israeli jails. According to the article, among the 87 hostages to be released are “40 Israeli women, 13 Israeli children and 35 foreign nationals”. Part of the “deal” includes a 5-day halt in the fighting, during which time the hostages will be freed in “small groups every 24 hours”.

A few points about the above article: (1)  The article is in World Israel News and The Jerusalem Post, but the report referred to is in the Washington Post; (2)  The report does not become “fact” until the Israeli government acknowledges that an agreement was reached with Hamas – with the intervention of the U.S.;(3)  Despite the massive pounding by the IDF of Hamas strongholds, and the obvious loss of control by Hamas over northern areas of the Gaza Strip, the terms of this “agreement” are, essentially, being set by Hamas, not by Israel; (4) The release of 87 hostages will be carried out in stages during a 5-day period, when there is a temporary halt in the fighting; (5)  The 87 hostages that will be released represent just over 35% of all of the hostages being held by Hamas, by the “Palestinian” Islamic Jihad and by unaffiliated, and unknown, mob families; (6) The agreement by Israel for the release of 35% of the hostages, in exchange for a 5-day halt in the fighting is a serious breach of the promise by the Israeli government to the nation that Israel will not agree to a temporary halt in the fighting WITHOUT THE RETURN OF ALL OF THE HOSTAGES; (7) The 87 hostages to be released include 35 foreign nationals; (8) The U.S. is an active participant in the negotiations and has a vested interest in helping to bring about a cessation of the fighting, in order to help release some of the hostages, which includes American citizens; (9)  It would not be surprising if the foreign nationals to be released include all of the American citizens; (10) Israel’s agreeing to the release of 40 Israeli women and 13 Israeli children leaves an unknown number of additional women and children in the hands of the terrorists, whose identities, ages and health conditions remain unknown, and also leaves all of the men and, specifically, all of the soldiers – who are not necessarily all men; (11)  Israel’s agreement to the partial release of hostages will require the release of terrorists in Israeli jails, most of whom will probably have blood on their hands; (12)  Israel will be required to deliver fuel to the Gaza enclave, which it has already agreed to do, and which in all likelihood, will not be used for the humanitarian relief of Gaza citizens, but for military use by Hamas and the “Palestinian” Islamic Jihad; (13)  By returning the hostages a little bit at a time, Hamas can control, to a degree, Israel’s compliance with the terms of the “agreement” and can stop the return of the hostages at any time that it feels that Israel is not behaving itself properly; (14)  By returning the hostages a little bit at a time, Hamas can regroup, reorganize, rearm and repair some of the damage caused to their terrorist infrastructure, as well as remove themselves and the remaining hostages to a different location; (15)  By agreeing to the return of only about a third of the hostages, in exchange for the release of terrorists, fuel and a ceasefire, Israel shows that it is willing to bow to internal (as well as external) pressure and yield to the demands of terrorists, WHOSE DEMANDS WILL INCREASE DURING THE NEXT ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS; (16) Leaving the IDF deep inside of Gaza for an extended ceasefire (5 days) will leave them as sitting ducks – it should be remembered that most of the IDF casualties during the Second Lebanon War took place when they were inside Lebanon, but were under orders from the government not to press forward in their fight against the Hezbollah, but to maintain their positions; (17)  When these particular hostages are returned, the pressure on the government will increase from the families and related groups to agree to whatever is necessary to bring about the release of the remaining hostages – a situation that could well bring us back to Hamas’s original “demands” for the release of all of the “Palestinians” (of whatever affiliation they may have) presently in Israeli jails; (18)  The release of women, children and foreign nationals, while leaving members of the IDF as hostages could have a serious affect upon the psyche of the nation, as well as the morale of the soldiers on the front lines, who were highly motivated to bring about the elimination of Hamas and the return of ALL of the hostages, including their comrades in arms; (19)  Once there is a prolonged cessation of fighting, it may be difficult to get motivated again and even to justify, at least from the point of view of international pressure, a resumption of the fighting; (20)  Israel’s failure to obtain the release and return of ALL of the hostages as a condition for agreeing to a halt in the fighting will be seen as a public-relations victory for Hamas and concomitant public-relations failure for Israel – Remember: in this part of the world, “saving face” or “losing face” is everything; it you are not decisively shown to having “lost”, then you are seen as having “won”. 

Admittedly, the Israeli government is in a difficult situation. Clearly, our “humanitarian assistance” should be first and foremost to our own people. But, our hostages have been and remain our weak point during these six weeks of warfare. 

Unlike prior military confrontations with Hamas, which resulted in third-party brokered ceasefires, this time, Israel committed itself to Hamas’s elimination. Representatives of Hamas have already publicly stated that there will be repetitions of the events of October 7th. As noted by Ritz Katz, Executive Director of SITE Intelligence Group, that examines the ideology and online communications of extremist groups: “Even if its current leadership is effectively destroyed…Hamas and its followers will continue to regard Oct. 7 as a victory. That’s partly because the group unquestionably succeeded in focusing the world’s attention on the Palestinian conflict…It’s the first time I can remember that Hamas has become so prominent on a global scale…So many people have already forgotten Oct. 7 because Hamas immediately changed the discussion. It put the focus on Israel, not themselves. And that’s exactly what they wanted.” By its willingness to negotiate with the terrorists, Israel is compromising on its specifically declared goals, bringing us back to a seemingly endless cycle that this war was designed to break.

There were warnings that most of the world ignored, including Israel. Hamas had previously stated its genocidal plans:

“We will cut off your heads”

“We must attack every Jew on the planet – slaughter and kill”

“We will die as I blow up and cut the throats of the Jews and their legs”

“We will tear them to shreds”  The “Palestinian” Authority, whom Uncle Sam is trying to convince Uncle Izzy to take over control of the Gaza Strip after Hamas is defeated, has the same goals as Hamas – the destruction of Israel. We weren’t listening then. Is anyone listening now?

Let’s also try to keep things in perspective. Representatives of Qatar are brokering the negotiations for a ceasefire and the return of hostages. The Prime Minister of Qatar accused Israel of committing a massacre “before the eyes of the whole world” and added: “The world community must take stand against the violation of international law…Israel claims that hospitals are the headquarters of Hamas. What happened in Al Shifa is a crime and, unfortunately, we have not heard condemnation from the international community. We appreciate the European Union’s calls for a humanitarian truce and a cease-fire in Gaza.” In light of these comments, are we supposed to understand and readily accept that Qatar is acting as an “impartial intermediary”?

Maybe, just maybe, the leadership of Israel will pause and consider its ways. Maybe, just maybe, it will fulfill its promises to the nation and keep its collective heart and mind focused and its eyes on the goal. Then it can say that it has faithfully performed what it has promised, echoing the words of Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin