Israeli Agony vs American Ecstasy

"This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, as it signalled to the entire world that my administration would seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies."

"I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones."

"[My national security team, through the efforts of envoy Steve Witkoff] will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to make sure Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven."

U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump

"I laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council."

"My diplomacy [sic] never ceased in their efforts to get this done."

"[Thanks are due to] dogged and painstaking American diplomacy."

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden

AJC  Getty Images

 

What other country in the world ever was forced to face such a dilemma of conscience and self-defense? Seasoned by close to a century of unremitting attacks from Arab national militaries and Palestinian Arab terrorism in fruitless yet deadly campaigns of intimidation, threat, and violent assaults to dislodge the tiny geographic State of Israel, established on a minute portion of its ancient ancestral homeland; forced to respond with military might and precision to remain intact and protect its population, while at the same time dedicated to retrieving any of its citizens from enemy hands, intact or inert.

In responding to the most barbaric, savage assault in its modern  history, Israel dispatched its military into Gaza in October of 2023 for the dual purpose of rescuing Israelis taken hostage in their hundreds; from infants to the elderly, when Hamas terrorists led thousands of its members along with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorists, along with ordinary Palestinians on a deadly rampage through southern Israel on October 7. A chaotic maelstrom of death, torture, mass rape and destruction.

The international community had reservations about the Israel Defense Forces' hunt for the terrorists that had ravaged Israeli farming communities, burning entire families alive in their homes, hunting down young Israelis at a nearby music festival in an orgy of rape and murder. The Israeli military targeted the terrorist group's command centres, weapons depots, rocket factories, and network of  underground tunnels criss-crossing Gaza. 

 

Demonstrators take part in a protest calling for the release of Israelis held hostage in Gaza by Hamas and an end to the war, in Tel Aviv on January 15, 2025. (Jack Guez/AFP)

 

The well-recognized Hamas practise of installing command centres, storing weapons and living among dense populations to shield themselves from Israeli responses, counting on Jewish reluctance to target civilian areas ensured that the damage done to crowded populations was as controlled as humanly possible, given advance warning of strikes urging civilians to move out of vulnerable areas to preserve their lives. The intention of Hamas was somewhat different; prepared and even inviting deadly assaults to gain a high number of civilian casualties, useful in portraying Israel as the aggressor, and Palestinians as victims.

The world's attention pivoted from horror at the sight of photographs and videos on social media taken by body cams worn by the terrorists as they rampaged through Israeli kibbutzim, to later Hamas videos of the sight of Gaza enclaves crumbling under Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas rocket launching sites. The fact that Hamas used hospitals, schools and private residences along with multiple housing complexes as command centres and weapons storage systems worked to Hamas' favour in persuading the West that the Israeli goal of destroying Hamas was sacrificing Palestinian civilian populations.

Leading to condemnation of Israel at every turn, and a generalized campaign to force a ceasefire. The latest of which is meant to return an estimated 98 Israeli captives held by Hamas and its operatives in Gaza, many of whom are considered to be dead. Israel is anxious to retrieve its citizens, young and old, whether they be dead or still alive. And for that purpose agreed, as is usual, to release thousands of criminal Palestinians from Israeli jails. 

The coming Sunday is meant to feature the first of the exchanges; the Bibas family, father and mother of a one-year-old infant and 4-year-old toddler are meant to be among the first tranche to be released, among 33 Israeli hostages, including adolescents, women and the elderly and ill. It is anticipated that all of the released will be in dire need of direct medical attention; weak and malnourished, wounded and suffering the trauma of deprivation and torture.

People stand by Israel flag-covered coffins meant to symbolize the price Israel will pay for agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas in a demonstration against the deal in Jerusalem on Jan. 16, 2025.