GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War Day 639

Specific Prayers Needed

Not Everyone Is Happy

As Israel sends a team to Qatar to begin talks to get the hostages back one hostage forum thinks only getting half of the hostages back in 60 days is simply not good enough as we read in a report from i24news.tv:

As Israeli leaders weigh the contours of a possible partial ceasefire deal with Hamas, the families of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza issued an impassioned public statement this weekend, condemning any agreement that would return only some of the abductees.

Their main complaint is simple:

In a powerful message released Saturday, the Families Forum for the Return of Hostages denounced what they call the “beating system” and “cruel selection process,” which, they say, has left families trapped in unbearable uncertainty for 638 days—not knowing whether to hope for reunion or prepare for mourning.

This has always been the case in previous deals and Hamas is notorious for not letting Israel know until the last second who they will release since it inflicts the most amount of pain on the families:

The group warned that a phased or selective deal—rumored to be under discussion—would deepen their suffering and perpetuate injustice. Among the 50 hostages, 22 are believed to be alive, and 28 are presumed dead.

“Every family deserves answers and closure,” the Forum said. “Whether it is a return to embrace or a grave to mourn over—each is sacred.”

Although I understand that these relatives have to vent at the government, they should be angry more at Hamas and demand pressure be put on them, otherwise they fall right into line with the psychological tactics of the terrorists:

They accused the Israeli government of allowing political considerations to prevent a full agreement that could have brought all hostages—living and fallen—home long ago. “It is forbidden to conform to the dictates of Schindler-style lists,” the statement read, invoking a painful historical parallel. “All of the abductees could have returned for rehabilitation or burial months ago, had the government chosen to act with courage.”

We can all agree on this sentiment, though:

The Forum emphasized that every day in captivity poses a mortal risk to the living hostages, and for the deceased, a danger of being lost forever. “The horror of selection does not spare any of us,” the statement said. “Enough with the separation and categories that deepen the pain of the families.”

The forum met in Tel Aviv and pushed for a full release of all the hostages and ended their comments with this call to action:

“We will return. We will avenge,” the Forum concluded. “This is the time to complete the mission.”

While I disagree with them relentlessly criticizing the government they probably are putting pressure on the only people they can influence since Hamas is too intractable to change.

Three Options

According to an article from The Jerusalem Post the IDF Chief of Staff sees three options to defeat Hamas in Gaza:

In light of the progress toward the objectives of Operation Gideon’s Chariots in Gaza, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir presented three alternative options this past week for the period following its completion.

The report comes as the IDF is close to doing what they set out to do in the latest offensive:

According to assessments by security sources, in a few weeks, the operation will come to fruition with the conquest of 75% of the Gaza Strip’s territory and the completion of all the goals set by the political echelon for the IDF.

The article starts with the one option the military is adverse to:

The first alternative, the least favored by the military and senior security officials, is a full conquest of the Gaza Strip, or in other words, a military government. This is a very significant operational challenge for two main reasons: such a move would place the hostages being held in Gaza City and the central camps at high risk, as they serve as human shields for senior Hamas officials, and it would heavily strain both the reserve and regular forces, as well as the IDF’s stockpiles, particularly the ground troops. Additionally, it cannot be ignored that this involves a very large concentration of the Palestinian population (over one and a half million), and it would be difficult to move them all.

Here is the next option Zamir offered:

The second alternative involves surrounding Gaza City and the central camps and transitioning to a strategy of attrition and raids by the IDF on Hamas strongholds from the air and ground. According to security sources’ assessments, Hamas commanders in the field are extremely exhausted from the fighting, and this type of combat may force them into a corner.

The option the military prefers depends on a ceasefire that returns all the hostages:

The third alternative is an agreement for the release of hostages, combined with a ceasefire that would allow the IDF to prepare for threats across all fronts and give breathing room to both the ground and air forces.

The military may prefer this option, but it depends on Hamas agreeing to return all the hostages, something they are loath to do. In the meantime, Hamas continues to lose soldiers including recent losses:

According to the security cabinet discussions, the IDF has met all the timelines and objectives set by the political echelon. Since the start of Operation Gideon Chariots, more than 1,200 terrorists have been killed. In just the past few days, over 100 terrorists were killed, including a naval force commander and seven senior terrorists who were sitting in a café. Contrary to reports, security sources claim that they were not innocent students. Additionally, a company commander from the Nukhba unit who participated in the massacre on October 7 and the direct murder of Israelis was killed.

One impressive accomplishment is getting Hamas to fight above ground:

Senior officers in the Southern Command added that the achievements of Operation Gideon’s Chariots are very impressive in the underground arena, forcing the terrorists to shift to fighting above ground, where ground, air, and intelligence forces are working against them.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem specifically. Our prayers are making a difference.