The Emaciated Figures Of Hostages Emerging From Gaza Has Had A Profound Effect

The Emaciated Figures Of Hostages Emerging From Gaza Has Had A Profound Effect

Amir Tsarfati

When I first made comparisons between the October 7 slaughter and the Holocaust, some people said, “Exaggeration!” I equated the torture and rape and brutalization of that horrible day in 2023 with what was seen in the Third Reich, but there were those who accused me of hyperbole and clickbait. Then, on Saturday, the emaciated figures of Ohad Ben Ami (56), Eli Sharabi (52), and Or Levy (34) were paraded on a Palestinian stage, forced to read anti-Israel statements, and then manhandled to their freedom. 

Before and after captivity pictures were circulated of these men, and comparisons of their starved bodies were juxtaposed with those of German death camp survivors. My hope is that finally in the minds of some of the naysayers, they’ll say, “I finally get it.” The only differences between Hamas and the Nazis are time and location.

There was one person upon whom those pictures had a profound effect, and that was U.S. President Donald Trump. Already iffy on the whole “a few hostages at a time” agreement, his viewing of Ami, Sharabi, and Levy pushed him over the edge. Trump demanded that Hamas release all the remaining hostages by noon this coming Saturday or “all hell will break loose.” I am so grateful for this statement, because Hamas has been playing games with the 59 remaining hostages. The Israeli cabinet also recognizes this and has voted to affirm Trump’s threat. Senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, has told Al Jazeera that they are committed to the original agreement and will not release all the hostages on Saturday. This could be a very interesting weekend. But more probably, it won’t.

Sadly, I still see Israel once again choosing to push through with the shameful ceasefire agreement. Why? The guilt felt by our nation and its leaders regarding the hostages, and the duty to release as many of them as possible while they are still alive, trumps all other considerations. Hamas knows this very sensitive spot, which is exactly why so many innocent civilians were kidnapped on October 7th. This is their winning card. They know they can extort our political and military leadership because the Jewish people sanctify life.

So, if you’re asking me what is going to happen this Saturday at noon, I will simply say, “Nothing.” The scheduled release of hostages in exchange for excessive “humanitarian aid” and the release of terrorists from our prisons will take place. 

The terrorists of the world know full well that when it comes to Israel’s hostages, our leaders will always blink first.

The evidence of Israel’s ready capitulation is already being seen in Gaza. Hamas is drunk with success. The ceasefire has forced the IDF from the Netzarim corridor, so now Hamas has free rein to move back into the north. Meanwhile, the worst of the Hamas prisoners being held by Israel have been sent home in return for innocent hostages, so the terrorists have gotten all they want. Already, they have begun training and planning for the next October 7 attack.

The one element of this whole equation that Hamas doesn’t seem to get is the Trump factor. He will carry out his threats. His plan to completely revamp the region into a new Riviera is one that he has every intention of going through with. And King Abdullah II of Jordan and President El-Sisi of Egypt are slowly learning that when Trump says that he expects their countries to open their borders for some Palestinian settlements in return for the billion-plus dollars in aid that America sends their way, they better unlock the gates. 

Right now, both leaders are saying they’re still pulling for a two-state solution, and Egypt has even ordered military brigades in the Sinai and Rafah regions to maintain the highest readiness for war. That resistance will likely be short-lived.

Lebanon’s Deepening Hole

As mentioned above, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended. It will now carry on past Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (March 29). This does not mean that the IDF is silent in southern Lebanon. Terrorist infrastructure which is contrary to the rules of the agreement continues to be destroyed by the Israeli military.

There are two more areas where Lebanon finds itself in trouble. The first is within its political structure. The recent national elections were an opportunity for the people to free themselves from Iran’s oppressive involvement in their country. Sadly, they blew it. 

Five Shiites were elected to the parliament, two of whom are members of Hezbollah. As long as the people include radicals in their government, their whole system will be compromised. Even more dangerous, however, is the threat from north and east. The new Sunni Syrian government, along with many of its Sunni citizens, want revenge for the torture and murder perpetrated upon them and their loved ones by Shiite Hezbollah. A war between a militarized Syria and a reeling Lebanon could certainly be on the horizon.

A Decision for Iran

When Donald Trump nixed Barack Obama’s Iran deal, he was roundly criticized. However, we are at a point now when the deal would have expired, and Iran would be free to do what they wanted when it came to nuclear weapons. Rather than enjoying that freedom, they are now faced with a choice – either the U.S. and Israel destroys their nuclear capabilities or they do it themselves. Trump is offering a deal in which Iran’s nuclear facilities would be thoroughly checked. Anything found connected to the creation of nuclear weapons would be required to be destroyed by Iran. Why would Iran go for a deal like that? Because if they don’t, the U.S. and/or Israel would. And since it would not be clear what was for power purposes and what was for weapons purposes, it would all have to go. This is the type of hard-thinking, line-in-the-sand strategy that is understood in the Middle East. If you are wishy-washy, you will be taken advantage of. However, if it is understood that you will follow through with your “or else”, you may be hated but you will be respected and listened to. The choice is clear for Iran.

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