David's Comment: The Hostage Dilemma
Here in Israel we are still in awe of the daring rescue mission that brought 2 hostages home 2 weeks ago with only one soldier being lightly wounded. That leaves 134 people still to be rescued or released, with the prospects for an acceptable release deal any time soon, not looking good. Hamas put themselves in a powerful bargaining position when they took 240 Israelis and foreigners, alive and dead, during the October 7th massacre. Knowing that in the past Israel has agreed to disproportionate hostage exchange deals, like freeing 1016 prisoners for 1 Israeli soldier in the case of Gilad Shalit, the Hamas leaders believed that they would be able to make outrageous demands on Israel if they kidnapped a large number of soldiers and civilians.
Most of you will have seen the posters with the face of each hostage, their name and the words BRING THEM HOME NOW. Their family members and friends wear shirts with the same faces and words printed on them. Understandably, they are desperate to get their loved ones released and are doing all they can to see that happen. Every decent person in Israel wants to see the remaining hostages come home, whatever condition they are in, but the dilemma is ... at what price? Many of the families and friends of the hostages are demanding that the government pay any price for the release of their loved ones, but the majority of Israelis do not want to see a surrender to the demands of Hamas and the other terror groups, understanding that this will only encourage and empower them and terrorists everywhere, to take hostages to get their demands met.
PM Netanyahu, the War Cabinet and the military leaders tell us that as well as defeating Hamas, they will bring every hostage back home, but achieving that goal presents an enormous challenge. They are being held in many different and unknown locations, making a single rescue mission impossible, and the terror groups are not likely to give up the hostages without trying to extract a huge price from Israel. For the 109 hostages who were released in November, Israel freed almost 3 times as many prisoners in exchange, but now Hamas is demanding thousands of terror prisoners be released and a permanent end to the war, plus much more. So far Israel has rejected these conditions and further negotiations are planned to reach an acceptable agreement .
International pressure is increasing daily on Israel to end the war and agree to the creation of the state of Palestinian, an unbiblical and dangerous demand. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the question is how long can PM Netanyahu and the War Cabinet stand against the increasing pressure from the hostage families and from the international leaders to accept an unrealistic and dangerous deal to see to the hostages released? If the war ends before Hamas is defeated, and thousands of cold blooded murderers are released to rejoin their organisations, then thousands of Israeli Jews and Arabs will be in danger of being murdered in the future. This for the release of 80 - 100 hostages who are thought to be still alive, and for the bodies of those who have died. Is that a price that Israel or anyone should have to pay? Will Hamas even honor their side of an agreement if one is reached? How long until they rebuild and attack Israel again?
As negotiations continue, that is the dilemma that Israel is facing. It is a very difficult situation as we want to get the hostages back as soon as possible, but Hamas is holding them as their trump card. Israel is in need of many miracles at this time. Please pray for GOD to intervene dramatically in this very difficult situation and that the hostages will be released very soon, without Israel having to submit to the demands of evil terrorists.
The LORD bless you as you bless Israel by standing in defense of her right to occupy and defend all of the land covenanted to the Jewish people by the GOD of Israel. Please pray that all of the Jewish people will turn back to their GOD and Messiah. Do not be silent, but share this with your fellow Christians, share it with your pastors, and with anyone you have a chance to speak to. Lets also pray for a revelation of the real Messiah for the Muslims, and please remember to pray for Angelic protection over all of the Israeli soldiers and pilots.
Shabbat Shalom ..... David
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