
<p>At last report, more than 150 men, women and children have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and are being held in secret locations in Gaza. ; These folks are not prisoners of war – subject to international legal protection by law and treaty. ; ; And even that is no guarantee against abuse, torture, or death. ;</p>



<p>The people held in Gaza are hostages – subject only to the unimaginable cruelty and barbarism of cut-throat terrorists – political sociopaths. ; Islamic terrorists not only relish committing acts of brutality – including murder &#8212; but they also publicize grotesque torture and murders for effect and personal pleasure. ; They celebrate their savagery – as do terrorists across the region, including Iran’s Supreme Commander the Qasem Soleimani.</p>



<p>No decent human being could possibly celebrate the actions of bloodthirsty terrorists &#8212; as has Iran’s Supreme Leader. ; But he is not a decent person. ; He is one of them … a terrorist parading as a religious leader.</p>



<p>It is one thing to recognize evil, and another to deal with it. ; The reality is that Hamas holds at least 150 people – likely including some Americans. ; Hamas sees them as bargaining chips to avoid retribution from Israel – perhaps even some money in the future. ; Especially with any American hostages. ; They understand the history of hostage taking.</p>



<p>The critical issue is what is to be done by Israel and its allies this time. ; What is the United States to do about any American hostages &#8212; as well as the already 14 confirmed dead Americans. In the past, that would be considered an act of war.</p>



<p>In a sense, the hostages are like Putin’s nuclear arsenal &#8212; used by the evil bullies as a threat to avoid retaliation and accountability for outrageous criminal activities in the form of attacks on sovereign nations and innocent people.</p>



<p>The first thought is how to get the hostages back. ; Back down on a military response and open negotiations? ; Try to locate the hostages and send in special forces in an attempt to release them? ; Concede something for their return?</p>



<p>And how far will the United States go in dealing with any American hostages – and the dead Americans. ; Will the Biden administration lament the situation or take action?</p>



<p>The fate of the hostages is in the hands of the same psychopathic terrorists who summarily slaughtered hundreds of other innocent victims. ; There can be attempts to rescue them, but the odds are that some will die in the process – maybe most of them.</p>



<p>The threats by Hamas to kill hostages as a monstrous serial reality show cannot dissuade the need to crush Hamas as quickly as possible – and their counterparts and sponsors in the longer run. ; The issue is not whether Israel and the United States should back down in the face of the threat, but what Israel and the United States will do if Hama carries out its threat. ; There can be no backing down.</p>



<p>The war in the Middle East is now a fundamental battle between good and evil. ; The GOOD people on both sides are the victims. ; Hamas and its supporters in Gaza and throughout the Middle East – and in the United States &#8212; are on the side of evil. ; That distinction has never been clearer since World War II.</p>



<p>The hostages are being held by evil people. ; They alone will determine that fate of 150-plus innocent (good) men, women and children. ; Hamas and its network of evil cannot be allowed to exist by hiding behind the innocent – whether it is hostages or innocent Palestinian citizens. ; Israel and the civilized world need to do everything possible to free the hostages – short of acquiescing to evil.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

The tragic dilemma of the Hamas hostages
