Hmmm...
Seems that Israel is now 'getting' Hamas attention...
Even as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are busily engaged revoking the birth certificates of Hamas terrorists in Gaza, and while Israel's air force is likewise engaged in changing Hamas terrorists' pronouns to "over here" and "over there," Hamas is admitting they are feeling the pinch. Now they are offering to release all of the remaining 59 hostages taken in the October 7th, 2023 attack, in return for a permanent cease-fire with Israel. Less than half of those hostages are thought to still be alive.
Full article, HERE from Red State.
Although I have not been watching it closely, it appears the latest IDF incursions into Gaza, along with the loss of the Syrian and Lebanese funding and ammunition streams has the remnants of Hamas on their back foot, in addition to the IDF's continued strikes removing leader after leader.
At 'some' point, there won't be anybody foolish enough to 'step up', and hopefully that comes soon.
Those remaining 59 families deserve to be given closure with those who were taken hostage, even if they are dead. Closure is closure, as long as the families 'know' what happened to their loved ones.
If Hamas is allowed a 'permanent' cease fire, it won't actually be that...It will just give them time to rebuild their forces once again. At least that is my opinion.
OBTW, has anybody wondered why NO countries in the Middle East will take Palestinian refugees? The AP has one idea, HERE. HERE is another look from Politico. Lastly, a look from the Arab Center in DC, HERE.
IMHO, the bottom line is that none of the countries 'trust' the refugees to not start crap in 'their' countries...
I'd heard that about the Palestinians before.
Re the hostages, it sounds cold, but perhaps a better policy would be to presume that hostages are dead as soon as they are taken, and proceed with whatever action would be warranted if there were no hostages. If they happen to be alive at the end, wonderful.
I've thought hard about this and would be accepting of it, were I a hostage. I wouldn't like it, mind, but I'd understand the reasoning; and I wouldn't want to be used to emotionally blackmail my loved ones.
In the long run, if hostages aren't useful as leverage, they will stop being taken.
Great links to why all the fear & loathing of the Palestinians, NFO.