One more thing about the hostages
I can’t find definitive word on this, but I thought I’d mention it anyway: I don’t believe that any hostage who was a member of the military at the time he or she was taken on October 7 has been released by Hamas in any of the hostage/prisoner exchanges. I believe that, from the very start, Hamas put them in a different category than the civilian women and the children kidnapped from the NOVA festival and the kibbutzim. If you look at this list of the released hostages, you’ll see it consists entirely of women, those 18 and under, and foreign nationals such as Thais.
As far as the civilian men go, I think Hamas released only those under 18 who were from the kibbutzim. The older male kibbutzniks are either dead or still hostages, except for two elderly men who were rescued by the IDF.
As far as I know, the rest of the hostages were in the military, except for the Bibas family, who were residents of Nir Oz when kidnapped. Hamas says the Bibas family members were killed by an Israeli airstrike, which is what Hamas says about every dead hostage. The statement has no meaning. We don’t know whether they are actually dead or alive and we don’t know whether Hamas even knows, but my guess is that they are dead.
The point of this post, however, is to point out something I don’t see the press explaining, which is that the remaining hostages (except for the Bibas family) are in two major categories: military members and civilian men over 18. I believe (but cannot prove) that these two groups – especially the military – were singled out by Hamas for harsher treatment from the start. “Harsher treatment” can mean many things, including death. But Hamas was always going to keep these groups back and use them to bargain for the entire prize: the release of all Palestinian prisoners (numbering in thousands) held in Israel, the end of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, and the continuation of Hamas’ own powerful death grip on Gaza.
I appreciate your coverage of events here in Israel.
This article gives an accurate picture of what is happening for most of us here – and why, with G-d’s help, we will not only win but emerge strengthened. Read it and take heart:
https://www.danielgreenfield.org/2024/04/the-untold-story-of-israel-after.html
The Israeli response is just one more facet of the truth that this really is a larger moral/religious struggle.
Because my job has been unaffected by the war, my “volunteerism” largely consists of supporting my sons and their wives, and supporting my neighbors who have been called up to serve in Gaza and to beef up local security. And my wife constantly points out that my work in hi-tech brings much-needed cash into the country… but I still am jealous of friends who are already semi-retired and have thrown themselves into relief and support work.
This charitable work and the comrades-in-arms mentality that has spread among both fighters and the home front, stand in stark contrast to the temper tantrums of the hard-Left BDS minority. (BDS=Bibi Derangement Syndrome).
They have never been so out of touch. As in the States, it seems they are in a mad race to do as much damage as they can before they are removed from positions of power.
Hamas is the right hand of Satan. Biden is the left hand, disgusting as he and his henchpeople are.
BenDavid:
Great link and thanks for your efforts here and at home:
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Before Oct 7, Israel had been tearing itself apart along political and religious lines. The underlying tensions haven’t gone away and every Hamas hostage offer calculatedly plays on those same divisions.
But Israel has also come together to a remarkable extent. That’s not a story which interests the media, but it ought to interest us because our hope for the future also lies in solidarity. In the years since 9/11, 7/7 or the other numberless Islamic terror atrocities that should have marked an awakening, we have learned all too well that superior weapons are not enough to win a war.
Wars are not just won or lost with firepower, but with the spirit of a people. The food baskets, clothing warehouses, volunteer guards, cooks and even gravediggers represent something as important, and perhaps even more important, than a military force: a national spirit.
https://www.danielgreenfield.org/2024/04/the-untold-story-of-israel-after.html
Don’t think ever saw a complete list of missing hostages and age, occupation.
I am pretty sure military women were killed immediately but one was captured but killed very soon after.
Not sure.
Should one mention the response of the Red Cross to the hostage issue?
@ Barry > “Should one mention the response of the Red Cross to the hostage issue?”
No.
Because, if you can’t say something good about some one, don’t say anything at all.