After all if Hamas’ success in murdering 1,200 Israelis in a day gave rise to the avalanche of antisemitism and jihad worldwide, there can be little question what a Hamas victory over Israel in the war, will bring
To receive the 33 hostages, Israel is required to, 1. free nearly 2,000 terrorists hundreds of whom are convicted mass murderers 2. must withdraw its forces from the cities of Gaza and from the Netzarim Corridor 3. permitting the mass return of Palestinians to northern Gaza 4. and the full resupply of Gaza, still under Hamas control
All told, Israel is paying for the 33 hostages in a manner that risks 1. all of its soldiers’ hard-won gains on the battlefield over the past 15 months of war 2. horrifically wounded soldiers and soldiers returning in coffins
While that is a steep price it pales in comparison, to the price of moving to the Phase Two
Under the terms of the Witkoff / Biden agreement, in Phase Two, Israel is to withdraw, 1. all of its remaining forces from Gaza 2. including from the border separating Gaza from Egypt 3. In other words, Israel must cede control of Gaza [back] to Hamas
In exchange, Hamas will return the remaining live hostages to Israel—but retain the bodies of the hostages it has murdered
