Photo credit: Hostages Families Forum Headquarters
The recovery this weekend of the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza has plunged Israel into a state of profound grief and outrage. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23; Carmel Gat, 40; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Alexander Lobanov, 32; Almog Sarusi, 27; and Ori Danino, 25, were taken captive by Hamas during the brutal attacks on October 7.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American whose parents have gained global recognition as advocates for the hostage family movement and who spoke at the Democratic National Convention last month, has for many of us represented the horrific plight of the hostages.
These lost souls, who survived months of torture and captivity, were murdered just as the possibility of their rescue seemed near. Their deaths have ignited widespread protests across Israel, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets, demanding more decisive action from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The protests reflect a deep-seated anger among Israelis who feel that Netanyahu has consistently pushed back against potential deals that could have brought the hostages home sooner. Many are frustrated that, despite nearly 11 months of opportunities to negotiate, Netanyahu has resisted efforts that might have saved these lives, prioritizing military objectives over immediate hostage recovery. This public outcry is not just a display of frustration but a demand for accountability—a call for Netanyahu to demonstrate that he exhausted every possible option to bring the hostages home safely.
The pressure on Netanyahu is mounting not just from the public but also from within his own government. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emerged as one of Netanyahu’s most vocal critics, arguing that the Prime Minister has not done enough to secure a deal with Hamas. Gallant, along with other high-ranking officials, has urged Netanyahu to reconsider his approach, particularly his insistence on maintaining a military presence in strategic areas like the Philadelphi Corridor. This strategy, intended to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza, has been a significant obstacle in negotiations, leading some to question whether Netanyahu’s priorities are in the right place.
Netanyahu faces a series of choices, each with significant consequences. To be clear, Hamas attacked Israel and took hostages on October 7. The six hostages were captured alive, and there was a window where they could have been saved. Instead, they were murdered by Hamas after enduring the horrors of captivity in Gaza. The question that now haunts the nation is whether Netanyahu did everything possible to prevent this tragedy. If Hamas was unwilling to accept a deal, does Netanyahu still bear responsibility for not convincing the Israeli public that he went the extra mile?
As protests continue, with the potential to escalate further, Israel is under immense pressure on multiple fronts. In the north, 100,000 Israelis have been uprooted from their homes due to attacks from Hezbollah, and there is a serious escalation of violence emanating from the West Bank. The pressure is mounting from all directions, and it’s expected that the protests will only grow in intensity in the coming days.
Adding to the urgency, three of the six hostages who were killed were slated to be among the first released in a proposed ceasefire and hostage agreement that, unfortunately, was not finalized in time. The fact that these hostages were killed just as the IDF was closing in on them, likely shot at close range, underscores the brutal reality of the situation. This raises painful questions: Should Israel ramp up the pressure on Hamas to force them to the negotiating table, or should it pull back, hoping that Hamas will negotiate in good faith? But what if Hamas concludes that threatening to execute hostages is a successful strategy to deter Israeli military action?
There are no good answers here. Each option carries its own set of risks and moral dilemmas. The choices before Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership are excruciating, with no clear path that guarantees the safety of all involved. This moment is one that demands serious soul-searching, both within the Israeli government and among its people.
Some Israelis argue that the government’s primary duty is to secure the release of the hostages, even if it means making difficult concessions. Others believe that destroying Hamas is essential for Israel’s long-term security, even if it means risking further loss of life in the short term. Both perspectives are valid and reflect the deep divisions within the nation’s heart.
I wrote a few days ago about the test for Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to adhere to a ceasefire to help vaccinate children against polio. Clearly this grim discovery makes a ceasefire deal to save the hostages and end the violence in Gaza even more dire. The situation could well be a tipping point. The pressure within Israel, both from the public and within the government itself, is immense. Gallant and other ministers have openly criticized Netanyahu’s strategy, with some calling for a change in leadership. In the coming days, as the nation grieves and reflects, Israel will have to confront these harsh realities and make some of the most difficult decisions in its history.
As we watch these events unfold, I invite you to share your thoughts. There are no easy solutions, but through dialogue, perhaps we can begin to find some clarity and understanding in this tragedy.
What a clear and logical piece. Only one problem, logic does not work in the Middle East, and certainly not in the Hamas tunnels. Unfortunately, also not with Bibi. Result: None
What a clear and logical piece. Only one problem, logic does not work in the Middle East, and certainly not in the Hamas tunnels. Unfortunately, also not with Bibi. Result: None