Dr. Mordechai Kedar: Hamas wouldn't have released a single hostage without IDF ground op

Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a prominent expert on Middle Eastern affairs, asserted in an interview this morning (Thursday) with the program "Eden and Oded" that Hamas would not have returned "even a single hostage" to Israel without the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. The statement came as part of a broader discussion on the ongoing hostage crisis involving Israeli captives held by the terrorist organization.

In the interview, Dr. Kedar stressed the critical role of military pressure in dealing with Hamas, arguing that the group only responds when faced with significant force. "Hamas would not have returned even a single hostage if Israel had not invaded Gaza," he said. "They only act when there is pressure on them, and therefore there is no choice – we must advance the military operation to convince them to release the hostages."

However, Kedar also acknowledged the grave risks involved in this approach. "Where’s the problem? They might also eliminate them, as we have already seen," he cautioned, referring to past instances where hostages were killed by their captors. "But we need to understand that this is the price of war, this is the price of integrity in the Middle East."

Criticism of Public Protests and Negotiation Tactics

Dr. Kedar expressed concern over the internal dynamics within Israeli society, particularly the public protests led by families of the hostages and their supporters. He argued that these demonstrations, while well-intentioned, are counterproductive and ultimately increase Hamas’s demands. "All the fuss we are making about the hostages is definitely increasing the price of their release," he stated, "to the point that we need operations like the ones we are conducting now."

With evident regret, he elaborated: "I say with great sorrow that the louder the families of the hostages make noise, the higher the price becomes in Hamas’s eyes for their release." According to Kedar, this escalation has forced Israel into a position where military operations remain the only viable option to secure the hostages’ freedom.

The Middle East expert proposed a radically tougher stance in Israel’s negotiations with Hamas. "Israel should have said from the start: As far as we’re concerned, until we receive proof that they are all alive, or that whoever is alive is indeed alive, as far as we’re concerned, they are dead, and there will be no negotiations," he suggested. This hardline approach, he argued, would shift the burden onto Hamas to prove the hostages’ status rather than allowing the group to dictate terms.

Hamas’s Strategy and Lack of Transparency

Dr. Kedar also criticized Hamas for its refusal to provide a comprehensive list of the hostages in its custody, including both the living and the deceased. "Up to this very moment as we speak, Hamas has not provided a full list of the hostages in their hands – neither the living nor those who are no longer alive," he said. "Why haven’t they provided it? Because they don’t know, or because they don’t want to tell us?"

He speculated that Hamas is deliberately withholding this information as part of a broader strategy. "Those in their hands, in Hamas’s hands, they do know," he continued. "They want to keep a certain number of living hostages in their possession forever, so that they can always ensure that Israel doesn’t return to Gaza permanently, ensuring that Israel doesn’t conquer Gaza permanently." In Kedar’s view, this tactic is designed to maintain a perpetual bargaining chip against Israel and secure the group’s long-term survival.

A Call for Resolve

Dr. Kedar’s remarks underscore a stark perspective on the hostage crisis, framing it as a test of Israel’s resolve in the face of an uncompromising adversary. His call for intensified military pressure and a rigid negotiating posture reflects his belief that only strength can compel Hamas to act. While acknowledging the tragic costs involved, he maintained that such measures are unavoidable in the context of the Middle East’s volatile realities.

Channel 14 contributed to this article.