These developments, plus a combined urging from Joe Biden, and now President Donald Trump, ultimately came together to prompt Netanyahu to agree to the first stage of a peace deal. It is surely a bitter pill to swallow.
This humiliation has surely only made Netanyahu more emphatic that he is not finished with Hamas.Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Seeing Hamas fighters coming out of hiding in Gaza in sizeable numbers during the first hostage transfer – all in relatively good health and well presented – was a striking visual reminder, seen across the world, that Netanyahu’s ambitions have not been realised.
Among those released in the second hostage transfer were Karina Ariev and Daniella Gilboa, who were both stationed at the Nahal Oz military base on the border with Gaza before being taken hostage. According to Ariev’s sister, Karina had observed suspicious military movement and raised concerns for three months before the terrorist attack, while Gilboa’s mother said her daughter had seen people she believed were Hamas militants on the border preparing for what she believed was an attack in the lead-up to October 7, for which Lieutenant General Herzi Galevi has taken responsibility for and resigned over.
While no doubt psychologically affected, the women appeared to be in good physical health as they appeared onstage, waving, smiling and posing for photos during their release.
This humiliation has surely only made Netanyahu more emphatic that he is not finished with Hamas, stating that the current ceasefire is “temporary” and that he has the full backing of Trump to resume fighting when deemed necessary. Since the start of the ceasefire, the IDF has launched a major security operation in the West Bank, already killing and wounding dozens and arresting hundreds of Palestinians in the process.
Loading
There is no enforcement mechanism for the ceasefire that could prevent him from refusing to negotiate its second stage, which requires Hamas to free all remaining hostages – dead and alive – in return for the Israeli release of more Palestinian prisoners, along with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all of Gaza.
The only factor that could possibly stop further military action would be Hamas’s retention of remaining hostages after the first stage, and Trump rescinding his offer of unlimited support, though he has said that it is Israel’s war and Gaza is a “phenomenal location” with good weather, implying that it could make a beautiful piece of real estate.
Until then, though, Netanyahu must face his people and the reality of his declarations not coming to fruition.
Amin Saikal is emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at the Australian National University, adjunct professor of Social Sciences at the University of Western Australia, and Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow at Victoria University.
