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JERUSALEM, Israel – On Tuesday evening, the Israeli government approved a partial hostage-taking deal with the terrorist group Hamas. The agreement harbors opportunities, but also dangers.
The War Cabinet presented the agreement to Knesset members. It is a deal that will take place in two phases. In the first phase, Hamas will release 50 Israeli women and children during a four-day lull in fighting. Israel will also release 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and minors. Israel will then allow about 300 aid trucks per day to enter Gaza from Egypt, plus more fuel.
In the second phase, the release of another ten hostages will lead to a one-day extension of the ceasefire. Some warn that it will be difficult to restart the war once it ends.
Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the war would continue.
“There is idle talk outside as if after the ceasefire to return our abductees we will end the war,” Netanyahu said. “That’s why I want to make it clear: we are at war – and we will continue the war. We will continue the war until we achieve all of our objectives: eliminate Hamas, bring back all of our abductees and missing people, and ensure that there will be no element in Gaza that threatens Israel.”
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CBN News War correspondent Chuck Holton, who spoke with Israelis as he traveled across the country during the fighting, says the agreement is a response to a global call for freedom for prisoners.
“They have a chance to escape, especially some of the women and children who are being held hostage. And there are so many people here in Israel and elsewhere in the world who are crying out for it,” Holton says.
But he believes it also carries risks.
“You have to weigh the fact that this puts more IDF soldiers at risk, because the longer troops are in the field, the more risks they take,” Holton added. “And it gives Hamas a certain legitimacy. So that’s not a good thing. It also takes the pressure off Hamas for a while, at least for several days, and gives them time to rearm and retool, rest and plan what they’re going to do.” I’ll do it next. Ultimately, it will likely prolong this conflict, which is obviously not a good thing.”
In 2011, Israel released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including Yahya Sinwar, now Hamas chief in Gaza, in exchange for a single Israeli soldier. On October 7, Hamas kidnapped more than 240 hostages. Since then, their return has been part of a nationwide and global campaign to bring them home.
The IDF released footage this week showing some of the hostages being taken to Al Shifa Hospital.
While the return of 50 hostages will bring relief to dozens of Israeli families, the plight of nearly two hundred other families will continue.
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