Q&A: The Deal Hamas Offered
The Deal Hamas Offered
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Recently it was reported that Hamas is offering the following deal in exchange for the release of all the hostages:
- Israel withdraws from all areas of the Strip
- A permanent end to the war, including international guarantees for this
- The release of all the terrorists from prison
What do you think of this deal?
Best regards,
Answer
The question isn’t well defined. What does it mean to end the fighting permanently? Regardless of what Hamas does? That makes no sense.
Discussion on Answer
Meaning, on condition that Hamas turns into Greenpeace. If so, there’s no problem.
Not that it would turn into Greenpeace—it would keep building itself up and just act, say, a few years from now. Only the moment it acts would we have legitimacy to respond. But not to wage a preemptive war.
These are just hypothetical questions with no real meaning or plausibility. There’s no way to let a terror organization build up and organize itself, certainly not after what they just did, without responding. When exactly would we be allowed to react? After the next massacre? This isn’t serious.
Suppose clause 2 were replaced with a ceasefire for several months (like in the previous deal, just longer) — what would your opinion of this deal be?
Completely in favor.
I assume this means a situation in which Hamas does not provoke anything.