Remaining Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas to Return Home

What Happened?

The twenty remaining Israeli hostages were released by Hamas to return home this weekend after more than two years in captivity. On October 7^th, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel and took over two hundred and fifty Israelis hostage, and after two years of war, only twenty remained alive. 

Israel’s military confirmed all twenty hostages had been returned from Gaza after their transfer by the Red Cross. The hostage release was part of a new ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that could finally bring the two-year conflict to an end. 

Why it Matters

An overwhelming majority of the Israeli public has long believed the release of the hostages is the number one condition for ending the war with Hamas. While many Israelis wanted the war to end and disagreed with the way it had been conducted, nearly all agreed that the hostage release was the most important issue. By releasing the hostages, Hamas gave up its biggest bargaining chip with Israel, and they are now in the worst position politically in the organization’s history.

Claims that the ceasefire has ushered in a new Middle East are premature. Israel and Hamas have only agreed to phase one of a ceasefire; they’ve been in this position before and broken the conditions of the temporary peace deal, which caused fighting to resume. It still could again. But for now, the cessation of hostilities appears to be holding. 

The Gaza War has altered the dynamics of the Middle East, but it's unclear if those changes will be lasting. Hamas is the biggest loser of the war, simultaneously suffering a military defeat at the hands of Israel and a political defeat at the hands of their Arab neighbors. Arab support for Hamas has reached an all-time low, and countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which previously supported Hamas, have now insisted the group should have no role in governing Gaza in the future.

Whether or not Hamas will disarm remains uncertain, as the group thus far has appeared defiant in spite of the new peace deal. Palestinians in Gaza suffered enormously during the war, and though casualty estimates vary, it is likely tens of thousands have been killed since 2023.

Iran was also a major loser of the Gaza War, since its proxies, including Hezbollah and the Houthi, suffered decisive military defeat at the hands of Israel and the United States. The loss of Iranian influence throughout the region will be difficult for Iran to rebuild.

Yet the fundamental threat posed by Hamas to Israel remains, and its vile teachings remain unchanged. Its members still unapologetically cling to those beliefs.

How it Affects You

The key to lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians may be how the Palestinian people react to the war and its aftermath. If they reject Hamas and its teachings, it could mark the beginning of a new era. But if they embrace the ideology of Hamas and seek revenge, then the peace deal will just be another temporary pause in a centuries-old conflict.