Outrageous Demonstrations

Every one of the hostage releases done by Hamas in the latest round of the ceasefire was one propaganda production after another meant to embarrass the hostages. their families. And Israel as we read in an article from The Media Line:

The meticulously choreographed stage in Gaza, featuring a grotesque mural of Bibi the Vampire clutching the Bibas family, set as Hamas paraded the coffins of an innocent mother, her two young sons, and journalist and peace activist Oded Lifshitz, was an abomination. Determined to expand the boundaries of hell, Hamas played a shell game, sending the black coffins but withholding the remains of Shiri Bibas. The backdrop bore the words, in Arabic, Hebrew, and English: “War Criminal Netanyahu Killed Them with Missiles, Zionist Warplanes.” This, too, should be considered a war crime.

And it was a violation of human rights:

The grotesque spectacle drew international condemnation, including from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who said Hamas’ actions were a violation of human rights. “Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” Türk said, calling the display abhorrent and contrary to international law.

The United Nations, which has supported the Gazans at every turn says these were wrong. The conclusion is this:

This should be the final straw in the negotiations.

More and more NGOs have also weighed in, but Hamas continues to do it, thumbing their nose to Israel and the world:

Calling out Hamas for violating agreements, appealing to the Red Cross, and condemning these acts as psychological warfare has been done repeatedly—yet it has only emboldened the terrorist group to escalate its abusive and traumatic tactics.

Instead of getting the hints that they are losing public and even private support from usually supporters and sympathizers, terrorists double and triple down on these tactics. And the international community barely bats an eye:

Each hostage release, carried out under a fragile ceasefire, becomes more inhumane than the last. Every step in negotiations between Hamas and Israel has been broken by Hamas. Forcing hostages to stand before cameras, thanking their captors, and receiving certificates for surviving brutal conditions has not yet shocked the world into action. The sight of emaciated Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy, reduced to near-skeletal states, has not been enough to prove that their captors are not human but savages.

The More Pain, The Better

As I’ve said time and time again, Hamas is using a playbook meant to humiliate, demean and to inflict the maximum amount of pain on Israelis and the families:

The trauma for the families is unimaginable. But for Yarden Bibas, kidnapped from Nir Oz and returned on February 1, the nightmare will never end. The pain is shared by every Israeli, and the story of two redheaded boys, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, has touched hearts worldwide. Kfir, the youngest hostage abducted on October 7, was only eight and a half months old. This family has become a symbol of Hamas’ barbarism—and, reportedly, of the many Gazans who participated in the attack.

The question then is, when will the world scream in outrage against these? Unfortunately the silence is deafening:

How do we, as a supposedly civilized world, explain to our children that we negotiated with evil incarnate? We teach them to avoid those who could harm them—yet we fail to follow our own advice. Feeding bad behavior does not subdue it; it strengthens it.

The contrast between Israel and Hamas view their children is stark:

While Israel works to protect its children from psychological trauma, Hamas uses children as human shields, combatants, and propaganda tools. The Education Ministry in Israel has issued guidance for helping children process news about the returned bodies, urging parents and educators to provide reassurance while minimizing exposure to distressing images. Meanwhile, Hamas has expanded its recruitment of child soldiers, dressing young children—some barely in kindergarten—as armed fighters. Some are used for show, but many are actively indoctrinated and trained for battle. Hamas does not just fight Israel—it seeks to dominate its own people, ensuring that future generations are raised in a culture of violence and hatred.

Hamas is using this ceasefire to get everything they want and more:

This is a mockery of those negotiating and a clear reminder that Hamas remains in control.

The exchange ratio of one hostage for 50 prisoners, which then escalated to one for 100 within a week, further exposes who is dictating the terms. Many of the released prisoners are convicted killers who should remain behind bars—causing fresh wounds for families like Hillel Fuld’s, whose American brother was murdered by Khalil Yousef Ali Jabarin.

This is not a negotiation; it is a power game where Hamas holds all the cards.

Every second they aren’t held accountable with little more than words they will only do more:

Despite Hamas’ well-documented atrocities, international condemnation remains insufficient. While the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other governments have condemned Hamas for taking hostages, they have not done enough to hold the group accountable. Some governments have pointed directly to Hamas’ responsibility for the deaths of the Bibas family, yet words alone will not bring justice. Without meaningful action, Hamas will continue to manipulate negotiations and commit further crimes with impunity.

They are even now getting ready for another attack and have even said so publicly. They have no respect for International law let alone any moral constraints. It’s high time they be dealt with:

October 7, 2023, should have been the world’s final wake-up call—a warning of Hamas’ capabilities and intentions. This is a terrorist organization driven by bloodlust, one that no rebranding or justification can conceal. Hamas’ leadership should face trial at the International Criminal Court, and the United Nations should be in an uproar over its atrocities.

At the top of the list of people who should be doing more is US President Donald Trump who had strong words about what would happen if all the hostages weren’t released the day he was inaugurated:

President Donald Trump warned Hamas that “hell would break out” if the hostages were not released. It is time to remind Hamas who is truly in control, under what terms, and to break this dangerous cycle of lopsided negotiations.

Don’t get me wrong, I supported Trump and my belief he would turn the tide in the war against terrorism in the Middle East. In some respects he has. However all we’ve gotten is terrorists who think they can’t be beaten and relish every compromise the West makes to let them exist longer. The moral timeclock is almost at midnight. We’re looking at deeds as heinous as Nazi Germany and we’re only talking. The hostages still in captivity are not going to be able to hold on much longer:

Take away the power from the armed wing; it only empowers the evil among us.

Amen to that!