It is a grim and disturbing question. It is not one that is raised in media reports on hostage negotiations. The fact is that we know very little about the conditions of the hostages – or whether they are all still alive. But what we have learned is very ominous.
Determining the exact number of hostages at any given time – or in any given condition – is more like counting the beans in the jar. Reports vary widely in terms of exact numbers. Current reporting suggests that there are approximately 130 hostages in captivity – including five Americans.
Numbers have never been precise. We are told that approximately 1200 people were killed in the Hamas attack. It was estimated that 240 people were taken into Gaza and between 70 and 100 of them were murdered in the days following the attack. That left between 140 to 150 hostages in Hamas custody. So far, 86 have been released. That leaves approximately 54 to 64 still in captivity.
So, how do we get the 130 number? For the sake of discussion, we should assume that the 130 figure is correct – and that some earlier reports were not.
The hint of a grim reality was revealed when Hamas said that there were less than 20 hostages suitable for a prisoner exchange. They are mostly women, children, the elderly and the infirmed. If that is true approximately 110 hostages are unaccounted for – or may have been killed since their capture.
That is not an unreasonable fear. Hostages who have been released describe the inhuman cruelty of their captors – including harassment, beatings, torture, rape and murder. So, it is not a stretch to believe that Hamas terrorists continued to kill the mostly Jewish hostages during their captivity.
No American was released in the negotiated hostage exchanges. Media folk speculated why Hamas did not release any Americans – or why Biden had not insisted on their release during negotiations handled by the administration. In fact, Biden has not said a lot about the American hostages.
Some media folks speculated that Hamas did not release any Americans because of Biden’s refusal to cut off aid to Israel. Another possibility is that there are no Americans alive to be released. That question goes unasked by Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The possibility that most of the hostages may already be dead may explain why Hamas has been reluctant to enter into more hostage exchange negotiation. Perhaps even those 20 remaining hostages do not exist – with the exception of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was shown in a Hamas propaganda video in which his missing left hand could be seen.
When the hostages were first taken – and in view of the savage brutality of the Hamas attack on innocent men, women and children – I was sadly skeptical that most of the hostages would be repatriated alive.
Hamas terrorists were torn between two motives with regard to the hostages – to carry out their visceral hatred of all Jews, Americans, and infidels by killing them, or to use them as bargaining chips to win concessions, such as temporary cease-fires. It appears they did a little of both.
It would not surprise me if we had already seen the last of the prisoner exchanges. Hamas may be out of “chips.” Why they would refuse to negotiate the release of the ill, the elderly and children is worrisome.
Whatever happens in the future to any surviving hostages – and no matter how many hostages have died – Hamas bears 100 percent responsibility. No hostages would be dead … no Israeli citizens would be dead … no Israeli soldiers would be dead … no Palestinian citizens would be dead … were it not for the murderous October 7th attack on Israeli and other international citizens – including Americans.
War is a terrible thing. Citizens die because of the blood thirst and ambitions of their leaders. The only way to stop the current conflict is to annihilate Hamas. Unfortunately, that cannot be done without the loss of innocent lives – especially since Hamas uses the people as shields.
Israel did not start this war on Hamas – just as the Ukrainians did not start the war with Russia. The evil aggressors are known. They cannot be allowed to succeed.
We can all hope and pray that all hostages that remain alive will be released or rescued soon, but I am not optimistic.
So, there ‘tis.