Israel-Hamas Cease Fire

By Walter E. Block

As of the present writing, the specifics of the Israel-Hamas cease fire deal are not yet pellucidly clear. However, we can now begin to see at least the grayish outlines of what will occur, if this is agreed upon. It will be a very bad one for the safety, prosperity, even survival of the only Jewish state on the planet. If a rag-tag group of terrorists can get away with dictating terms to a powerful nation such as Israel, that could become an entering wedge.

What specifics are so far at least thought to be known? Reports the Associated Press: “The deal is expected to include the release of five female Israeli soldiers held by Hamas in the first phase of the agreement, each of whom would be exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted militants who are serving life sentences.”

That is a ratio of fifty to one! Where is the justice in that? I expect that this ratio is roughly proportional to the military might possessed, variously, by five female Israeli soldiers vis a vis 250 Palestinian terrorists. This seems eminently reasonable, since the former represent a high tech military and embody its superior fighting power, while the latter do not; they represent a third world society. If it came to battle between these two groups, and the IDF did not have to fight with one of their hands behind their backs, I would put my money on these five women soldiers. How’s that for a bit of sexism?

In a statement put out by CNN, “Palestinian prisoners deemed responsible for killing Israelis would not be released into the West Bank, but rather to the Gaza Strip or abroad following agreements with foreign countries.”

Well, that is a relief. Whew. I had feared that these murderers of the innocents would be set free into Judea and Samaria. Gaza? There to continue their depredations? That is just fine and dandy. If my sarcasm here isn’t immediately apparent, I don’t know else to express my utter disdain for this proviso.

The phrase “Palestinian prisoners” appears more than just several times in this document. I reject this characterization. I prefer to call them “Sinwars.” So, it looks as if there will be a trade for five distaff members of the IDF for 250 Sinwars (among many others in these rough proportions). Why, Sinwars? That is because Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind behind the genocidal atrocity of October 7, 2023. Why call this genocidal? That is because Hamas purposefully aimed to kill helpless civilians and did exactly that.

In very sharp contrast indeed, the IDF never does any such thing. That army targets enemy soldiers. Due to the fact that Hamas uses Gazans as shields, placing military installations in schools, hospitals, Mosques, there is indeed collateral damage. But this is the fault of Hamas, not the IDF.

The average ratio of civilians to soldiers killed by all armies on this the third rock from the sun, is 9:1. That is, for every member of the opposing army they kill, they also do away with nine civilians. The Israeli ratio? It is an incredibly low 1:1.5. The IDF sacrifices its members to save Gazan civilians. Does it ever get any credit for this act of national self-sacrifice? Not so that you would notice it.

Should Israel accept this cease fire deal? No, no, no, a thousand times no. It is a peace of the cemetery for Israel. Yes, if implemented, Hamas will eventually release all of its hostages, not a one of whom committed any crime, if all goes according to plan, that is. But a multiple, perhaps five to one, of criminal Sinwars will also be at large.

What will these Sinwars do once they are freed? You can bet your boots that in another few years, they will engage in a reprise of October 7, 2023. Already Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar, has become the leader of Hamas. What else can the Sinwars now held in Israeli prisons be expected to do? Attacking Jews, wherever they are, is their modus operandi. It is called for by their religious foundational documents.

If this treaty is agreed upon by Israel, it will be trading present hostages, who we know all too well (their pictures are plastered all over the place), for future hostages, the identity of whom is now completely unknown. Is that a good deal? No.

How, then, to obtain the Israeli and other hostages without releasing a single Sinwar? Simple. Conquer Hamas entirely. No deals with criminals. Force them to surrender. And, how to do this? Ignore the bleating of the United Nations, that emanating from European capitals, from university campuses the world over. Get serious. Relatively speaking, the carrot has not worked. Now try the stick. A big one.

Donald Trump said it best when he averred that unless those hostages are released, all hell will break loose. Let’s let loose the dogs of war, not the kittens of peace treaties. Let’s not free even one Sinwar.