Q&A: Hostages or Hamas
Hostages or Hamas
Question
I remember that the Rabbi addressed this dilemma, but I don’t remember exactly where, so forgive me for asking about something you already discussed. Assuming it’s possible to bring down Hamas, as the government and others in the security establishment claim, is bringing down Hamas more important than bringing back the hostages (assuming those two goals conflict with one another)?
Answer
Assuming Hamas falls and doesn’t rise again, then in my opinion yes. But even that can be done in several ways, for example trying to make deals for as many hostages as possible, and afterward, when there is grounds to bring down Hamas, and so on.
Discussion on Answer
From what I understand (from commentators in the TV studios and former generals), there is no possibility of a deal precisely because of this point—namely Hamas’s demand for a complete end to the fighting. I don’t see a scenario for a deal with Hamas if there are no guarantees that Israel will stop the fighting in Gaza and promise not to bring down Hamas. Doesn’t the Rabbi agree?
At least not a total deal that would bring back all the hostages. It’s pretty clear that Hamas will keep a significant number of hostages in order to pressure for an end to the fighting.
That is exactly what I said. The question isn’t relevant, because we probably won’t get the hostages. And probably not the bringing down of Hamas either.
You have to understand that if there’s no possibility of a deal, then in any case we won’t get the hostages, so the question doesn’t exist.