Even before the brutal deaths of six hostages in captivity, some of whom could have been returned to Israel alive in the first phase of the proposed deal, it was clear that the statement that only military pressure would bring back the hostages, which the Prime Minister and the security establishment have been repeating since October 7, is fundamentally unfounded. The bitter facts speak for themselves: eight hostages have been returned to Israel alive through military operations since October 7. Dozens were killed as a result of these operations, both by their brutal captors and by IDF fire. Israel’s actions are the primary contributing factor to the deaths of its citizens and soldiers. The statement that we need to discuss staying in the Philadelphi Corridor (the narrow strip of land along the border between Gaza and Egypt) is once again empty of content, as it is a distraction. This is not the obstacle to the deal. There will be no deal without an end to the fighting in Gaza in its current form, Philadelphi or no Philadelphi. Therefore, what is required today from the security establishment—since the political echelon cannot be trusted—is to say outright that the current fighting in Gaza must end, which may lead to the hostage deal and bring calm and order in the north. Any other statement or action is nothing more than false pretenses and a waste of time—and yesterday it was illustrated to us, in the cruelest and most heartbreaking way, who really has no time.
Even before the brutal deaths of six hostages in captivity, some of whom could have been returned to Israel alive in the first phase of the proposed deal, it was clear that the statement that only military pressure would bring back the hostages, which the Prime Minister and the security establishment have been repeating since October 7, is fundamentally unfounded. The bitter facts speak for themselves: eight hostages have been returned to Israel alive through military operations since October 7. Dozens were killed as a result of these operations, both by their brutal captors and by IDF fire. Israel’s actions are the primary contributing factor to the deaths of its citizens and soldiers. The statement that we need to discuss staying in the Philadelphi Corridor (the narrow strip of land along the border between Gaza and Egypt) is once again empty of content, as it is a distraction. This is not the obstacle to the deal. There will be no deal without an end to the fighting in Gaza in its current form, Philadelphi or no Philadelphi. Therefore, what is required today from the security establishment—since the political echelon cannot be trusted—is to say outright that the current fighting in Gaza must end, which may lead to the hostage deal and bring calm and order in the north. Any other statement or action is nothing more than false pretenses and a waste of time—and yesterday it was illustrated to us, in the cruelest and most heartbreaking way, who really has no time.