The hostages are coming home. Three-at-time. Four-at-time… Every day brings news of those who are finally being released from Hamas hell and captivity, but every day, another family sees their hope die, as their loved one remains in captivity. Last week saw the release of Romi, Emily, and Doron. This week we saw four brave female soldiers, paraded by Hamas like trophies, finally released back to Israel. But with that release Hamas reneged on the agreement to release all civilian women first (Arbel Yehud, Shiri Bibas) and a full list of those being released.

And so, Israel refused to allow the Palestinians back into northern Gaza until Hamas agreed to meet the terms. Then, finally, the announcement that Arbel, Agam Berger (another female soldier) and third, unnamed hostage (possibly American-Israeli Keith Siegel), would be released as early as this Thursday.

This lack of clarity and uncertainty has created a tension so intense in Israel you can feel it in the air.

Romi, Doron and Emily coming home and physically able to first meet with their families is great news! Getting Oron Shaul’s body back after over 10 years is also a relief. But we also know that the price of this “deal” is exorbitantly high.

The comparisons made in the press worldwide of a “prisoner exchange,” whereby innocent civilians kidnapped from their homes are equated with hardened criminals, mass murders and rapists, sets a precedent that will probably justify and encourage future kidnappings elsewhere. And yet — we hope that the deal will continue until the last remaining hostage is released.

This week we’ve decided to highlight the difference between how both President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have put aside ego and narrow political interests to prioritize and save lives, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu prioritizes personal ego and political gain at the expense of his own citizens. Regardless of whether you prefer Biden or Trump, both deserve credit. We are all aware of Donald Trump’s ego and Biden’s current desire to leave a positive legacy, but both have chosen to work together, putting aside personal egos and political differences, and agreeing to share credit to push a hostage deal over the finish line before Trump takes office.

The fact that Trump's representative, Steve Witkoff, is present alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the negotiations is both unusual and important. Witkoff’s presence ensures that promises (and threats) made by the current administration represent promises of both administrations. Prioritizing substance over ego also sends a strong signal to Bibi, his political allies, Hamas, Iran, Turkey, Qatar and all other countries in the region where Hamas leaders are welcome or may seek safe haven.  

On the Israeli side, soldiers are risking their lives every day to try and find save their fellow citizens held in captivity; and all, but a small minority made up primarily of political hacks and messianic nut-jobs, are doing whatever they can to keep the hostage issue front and center. But Bibi and the members of his democratically elected coalition are doing all they can to shift the blame for their failure and to stay in power until they succeed.

In the meantime, the coalition is raiding the Israeli treasury to provide jobs to friends and supporters; increasing the national debt over and above the needs of war and reconstruction; systematically dismantling every competing source of power regardless of the consequences; and doing everything in their power to fragment the population into competing groups.

These are serious accusations that we are making, but we are not the only the only ones who see this. We hear it daily in the streets from people on all sides of the political divide - Jewish-Israelis, Arab-Israelis and Druze-Israelis. We hear it from people who are totally secular, religious Jews (the so-called knitted-kippot/yarmulkes), and even ultra-orthodox Haredi.