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Why Is Now the Right Time to Make a Deal with Hamas?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel’s wars and victims of attacks, at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery, May 13, 2024. Photo: Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool via REUTERS
JNS.org – There has been an enormous, misleading perception concerning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to agree to the latest blackmail, extortion hostage agreement with Hamas.
For those who have criticized the prime minister for waiting until now to sign a deal with Hamas, the fact is that if Netanyahu had agreed to its prior terms, it would have assured that many hostages would remain in Gaza, including Americans. The reason is that it is only recently that Hamas dropped its insistence that Israel agree at the outset of an agreement to a permanent ceasefire, and to leave the Egyptian-Gaza border and the Philadelphi corridor through which the terrorist group has smuggled in weapons.
Netanyahu understood months ago that if Israel gave into Hamas’s terms, it would lose any leverage or pressure it had on the terror. It was only after Israel changed the course of the war in its favor with the decimation of Hezbollah and its leadership; the loss of Syria’s military equipment and assets; the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria; and the success Israel had in knocking out Iran’s missile-defense system that Hamas began to drop its extortionist demands.
Adding to the pressure was then-President-elect Donald Trump’s threat that there would be “hell to pay” if Hamas didn’t return the hostages, and new National Security Advisor Mike Waltz saying Hamas would get a worse deal if it waited for Trump to take office before making a deal.
Even with Israel’s stronger leverage, the terms Israel agreed to were outrageous as the Jewish state is releasing many mass murderers and more than 1,000 terrorists for the return of a third of the hostages.
The fact that some terrorists set to be released have American blood on their hands makes it clear that the United States needs to implement the 20-year-old Koby Mandell Act. Named for a 13-year-old boy with dual citizenship who was stoned to death, along with a teenage friend, by Palestinians, the law requires the US government to investigate and prosecute terrorists who killed Americans overseas. If these terrorists are convicted and imprisoned in the United States, Israel would not be able to release them in prisoner exchanges. It is possible that after all these years, those in government may not be aware of the Mandell Act. A video from about eight years ago of then-Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), now governor of Florida, leading a congressional hearing on the Obama administration’s lack of compliance with the act is on YouTube.
The big question going forward is how can Israel and the United States get back all of the hostages, whether alive or dead, while ensuring Hamas does not remain in power in Gaza.
The only way this can be accomplished is if Washington puts pressure on those Hamas most rely upon to survive—namely, Qatar and Egypt. If the United States told Qatar that it intends to withdraw its military base from the country if all the remaining hostages, including Americans, are not released immediately, there is no doubt they would be released without Hamas’s outrageous terms.
If the United States told Egypt there would be no more US aid unless it opened its border and took in the massive numbers of Palestinian Arabs in Gaza who want to leave, Egypt would open that border.
Civilians must be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip, thus ending Hamas’s ability to hide among the population. Trump’s envoy for the peace talks, Steve Witkoff, floated this idea saying if citizens in Gaza were relocated to Indonesia, it would be a significant help to end Hamas rule in Gaza.
Israel never had an offer from Hamas to release all the hostages at once. Instead, its leaders—as they did in November 2023 when more than 100 hostages came home—have prioritized the return of women, children, the elderly and the infirm. This shows Israel’s high moral principles while negotiating with the evil Hamas regime. With this deal, Israel will hopefully get back alive more than half of the hostages taken on Oct. 7.
The post Why Is Now the Right Time to Make a Deal with Hamas? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, waits to welcome the senior Ukrainian delegation led by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, after the ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
i24 News – The United States has begun sharing classified intelligence with Syria’s new leadership, led by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly designated as a terrorist organization, reports the Washington Post.
This unexpected collaboration comes in the wake of HTS overthrowing the Assad regime last month and reflects heightened US concerns about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to sources, US intelligence recently helped thwart a planned ISIS attack on a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus.
Despite this cooperation, US officials stress that the intelligence-sharing arrangement does not signify full support for HTS, which has a controversial history of extremism.
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously known by his militant alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has made efforts to project a more moderate image, pledging to protect Syria’s religious minorities and stabilize the country.
However, skepticism remains about HTS’s ability to govern effectively and sustain efforts against ISIS.
The Biden administration, before leaving office, maintained HTS’s terrorist designation while easing sanctions on Syria to facilitate humanitarian aid. As the new US administration under President Donald Trump takes shape, questions loom about the future of American involvement in Syria and the ongoing military presence aimed at preventing an ISIS comeback.
The post US Reportedly Shares Intelligence with New Syrian Leadership to Counter ISIS Threats first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List
A birthday cake for Kfir Bibas, who is a hostage in Hamas captivity. Thursday, January 18, 2024. (Photo: Debbie Weiss)
i24 News – The second phase of hostage releases between Israel and Hamas has sparked deep frustration and grief among the families of those still held captive.
Two hostages—Arbel Yahud and Agam Berger—were notably excluded from the list of those to be freed on Saturday, despite earlier agreements prioritizing the return of civilians.
Arbel Yahud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, both captives since the October 7 attack, were not included in the list of four hostages expected to be released.
Yahud, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was taken along with her partner, Ariel Cunio, whose family was freed in November. Yahud’s brother, Dolev, was later found dead in June after he was killed while trying to aid the wounded. Agam Berger, from Holon, was captured while stationed at Nahal Oz. Her family identified her in a video released by Hamas, showing her in pajamas being taken away in a vehicle after she called her father to alert him of the gunfire.
The omission of these two hostages has led to heightened concerns and calls for action from Israeli authorities, who are now exerting pressure on Hamas and mediators to honor the terms of the release agreement. Israeli officials reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the broader agreement, but warned that the failure to meet the agreed terms could harm future releases.
Adding to the grief, the Bibas family expressed their devastation when they learned that Shiri Bibas and her children, who were abducted from their Nir Oz home on October 7, were also absent from the second release list. In a heartfelt message shared on Saturday, the Bibas family shared their anguish: “Even though we were prepared for it, we were hoping to see Shiri and the children on the list that was supposed to be the civilian list.” The family voiced concerns over their loved one’s safety and questioned why, despite grave fears for their lives, their relatives were not included among the civilians due to be returned.
The Bibas family’s message emphasized their belief that the public must continue to demand answers, adding, “Thank you, dear supporters, for not giving up, for continuing to pray, to hope and to demand answers.
The post Hostages Missing from Hamas’ Release List first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity
A combination picture shows Israeli hostages Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, and Daniela Gilboa, soldiers who were seized from their army base in southern Israel during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in these undated handout pictures. Photo: Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS
i24 News – After 477 harrowing days in captivity, four young Israeli women—Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa—have finally returned home.
The release took place Saturday morning in Gaza’s Palestine Square, under a carefully staged scene orchestrated by Hamas.
The four women, who served in a military observation unit in Nahal Oz, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Before their release, they were made to wear uniforms provided by Hamas and were paraded on a platform in front of a crowd of activists. Forced to smile and wave, the women endured the ordeal under the watchful eyes of Hamas fighters.
Once the formalities concluded, the women walked to waiting ICRC vehicles, accompanied by representatives of the organization. Upon reaching Israeli forces, IDF medical teams immediately conducted examinations. At the meeting point, the first female officers who greeted them informed the women that their families were watching live. Overcome with emotion, the former hostages smiled at the cameras, sending heartfelt gestures to their loved ones.
Footage later released by the IDF captured a poignant moment: the four women removing the uniforms given to them by Hamas and embracing Israeli officers. These emotional scenes underscored the end of a long and grueling chapter in their lives.
The women were transported to the Reim reception center, where their families eagerly awaited them. After 477 days of separation, the reunions were deeply moving, marking a moment of relief and joy.
However, the release was not without complications. A fifth military observer, Agam Berger, remains in captivity, and Hamas failed to uphold its agreement to release civilian hostage Arbel Yahud, who was originally included in the liberation group. The breach of terms has drawn widespread condemnation, intensifying efforts to secure the release of those who remain captive.
This momentous event brings a mix of celebration and determination, as Israel continues to work tirelessly for the freedom of all hostages still held in Gaza.
The post Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levi, and Daniela Gilboa Return to Israel After 477 Days of Captivity first appeared on Algemeiner.com.