The emerging hostage deal, which will include the release of thousands of murderers and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, will be a total victory - but for Hamas.
The details of the hostage deal that is about to be closed any day have not yet been published to the Israeli public, and it's doubtful they will be. Usually, the Israeli public learns about agreement details through Al Jazeera or through Telegram channels covering the Arab world.
But from what's currently published, and according to a political source's briefing yesterday, Israel's agreement to release thousands of terrorists, including hundreds of convicted murderers with blood on their hands, withdraw from the Netzarim corridor, and increase food truck entry into Gaza in exchange for only about thirty hostages - the situation looks bad.
Three War Goals - None Achieved
Israel's war goals when the war broke out were to dismantle Hamas's military wing, collapse Hamas's government, and return the hostages. A year and three months after going to war, none of these goals have been achieved. Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, some would say fatal, but its military wing is still functioning. Rocket fire toward Israel has indeed stopped and been reduced by 99%, but it still exists.
The IDF has said several times that Hamas as an organized entity has been dismantled, but its death squads still lurk among the destroyed houses in northern Gaza and sometimes in Rafah, not to mention Khan Yunis which was captured and abandoned, and the entire central camp area that wasn't dealt with at all.
An Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will leave Hamas in power. Despite tens of thousands of casualties and thousands of eliminated top leadership members, from Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif downward, Hamas members are still those controlling the territory. IDF's exit from northern Gaza and the return of residents will bring Hamas back to control the civilian population.
70 Hostages Will Remain in Hamas's Hands as Insurance
The third goal of returning the hostages hasn't materialized either. The agreement speaking of 33 hostages, without knowing how many are even alive, leaves about 70 hostages in Hamas's hands as bargaining chips for future deals, whose price is unknown.
The IDF has destroyed Gaza Strip, most of it is in ruins, but Hamas leadership cares less about this. Once the IDF leaves the area, they will activate the international community to send billions to rehabilitate their government, rebuild houses, and restore Gaza. Thousands of terrorists will return to terrorism as they know how, and the remaining hostages will serve as insurance against Israeli strikes.
Netanyahu promised 11 months ago that "we are within touching distance of victory" and two months later spoke of being "one step away from victory." Perhaps this sentence should be translated into Arabic. Yinon Magal, who marketed the "Total Victory" hat, can produce a new line with the text "النصر المطلق!" It seems it would sell well in the Arab sector.
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