NYT report on Hamas instruction creates a new threat for Israel’s hostage operations
Dailytab24.
A report has emerged of the order passed across to all Hamas terrorist operatives, specifically to those guarding Israeli hostages in the tunnel or homes of civilian members of the terror organization.
The report pointed out that Hamas operatives guarding hostages should shoot to kill the hostages they are guiding if they think Israeli soldiers are coming for a rescue mission. The order according to New York Times was issued with seriousness.
IDF has long been on the move to rescue hostages, gathering intelligence with the help of United States and United Kingdom.
The fruit of the intelligence gathering led to finding out the location of the recently freed Israeli hostages.
During the operation to free the hostages; Hamas health ministry reported that over 200 Palestinian civilians were killed. The numbers have often been doubted due to they fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants or terrorists.
Investigation has often led to unstable records, with recent report saying the number of women and children allegedly announced killed so far in the war were intentionally inflated by the terror group. While the numbers issued by Hamas are not reliable, it doesn’t rule out zero civilian casualties.
Hamas has imbedded itself on the civilian infrastructure across the Strip, making it extremely hard for Israeli soldiers to conduct any operation without civilian casualties.
The terror group is always ready to use its propaganda machines to turn the world against Israel. Hence they use civilian infrastructure to target IDF.
The report by New York Times came out two days before the operation that freed four hostages in the Strip. It was unclear if the terrorists guarding the hostages were at a spot with them, but the hostages came out unhurt.
Report emerged that the home hostages were kept belongs to Al Jazeera journalist, who had written a column for the Qatar media network.
The media company quickly denied that the suspect, who kept hostages for Hamas is officially employed by them.
The report that hostages should be shot should Israeli soldiers initiate any rescue mission makes the mission of hostage rescue even harder.
The government of Israel must choose between risking the lives of its hostages or embracing a hostage deal.
Hamas invaded Israel on October Seventh under the cover of rockets and killed a thousand plus, while taking hostages.
The hostage taking was done to use it as a bargaining chip for the release of Hamas members and their sympathizers arrested by Israel.
Since the war began or operation to rescue hostages, Hamas has said that the group is ready to make a deal for the release of hostages.
First deal led to release of dozens of hostages; but further deal could not materialize due to discrepancies of interests.
Hamas said that any deal with Israel must be founded on ending the war to enable Palestinians to return to their homes. But Israeli government has said such hostage deal condition is non-starter.
The order to shoot hostages if Israeli soldiers come for their rescue is aimed to discourage Israel from rescue missions and consign them to hostage deal. Hostage deal is alive, but appears quite far from being agreed upon by both parties.
IDF must find a means to get close to those guiding hostages first before rescuing them to avoid avoidable disaster.
Israel has not responded to the report, and appears determined to rescue its hostages at any cost.
