Hamas kills American hostages without consequence – Israel

Today, the Israeli authorities announced that they had come to this conclusion Captain Omer NeutraThe 21-year-old died on October 7 last year, and Hamas took his body to Gaza.

Ronen and Orna Neutra, his parents, spoke at the national convention of the Republican Party in the middle of July. This did not change Hamas’ decision to continue holding their son’s body. In fact, Hamas could spare them the worry and agony of a year of waiting for information by releasing the body as early as October 2023. Hamas had no incentive to do this because it assumed it could kill as many Americans and Israelis as it wanted and get away with it.

Hamas also killed Hersh Goldberg-Paulin, whose parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August. Hamas would have seen this speech and concluded that it could kill him anyway and there would be no consequences. Why did Hamas suggest this? Because Hamas had already carried out an attack on October 7, and its leaders were living in Doha, Qatar at the time.

Qatar is the US’s main non-NATO ally. Hamas leaders suffered no consequences on October 7 in Qatar or any subsequent day. They felt they had a blank check to massacre and kill as many people as they wanted. They killed young people at the Nova festival and saw activists in the US and the West rush to support Hamas and call for new “flood” operations. Activists on campuses painted posters showing members of Hamas using paragliders to attack civilians. In New York, activists attacked the Nova festival documentary. Activists tore down photographs of the hostages.

Hamas is under no pressure from the Biden administration and doesn’t seem worried that things will change with the arrival of the Trump administration. He assumes he can kill and kidnap Americans and nothing will happen. This is due to the support of Hamas by the US allies in Doha and Ankara. It’s rare that a group that kills Americans is also embraced by America’s allies. Hamas is one of the historical exceptions to this rule. Hamas knows this and feels completely safe continuing its behavior.

Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of Israeli-American Omer Neutra, who is being held hostage in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack, speak on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, July 17. , 2024. (Image credit: REUTERS/JEENAH MOON)

Hamas potentially has more support abroad

This does not mean that Hamas has not suffered losses. Israel has killed thousands of Hamas members and eliminated many Hamas leaders. However, Hamas also suffered losses in the past during the Second Intifada. Losing leaders is not new for the group. He suggests that he can hold out for another year or two and that Israel will eventually leave Gaza.

Hamas does not seem to believe that keeping hostages alive has much effect. He is willing to let them die or keep the corpses. Hamas may now believe that Israel will make a deal similar to the ceasefire in Lebanon. Hezbollah held no hostages and struck a deal two months later. Hamas may suggest that keeping the hostages alive actually perpetuates the war and that without the hostages alive in Gaza, Israel will withdraw more quickly.

During the October 7 attack, Hamas learned that the killings of citizens of many countries had no real negative impact on Hamas. He is no more isolated today than on October 6, 2023. In fact, he has the same support overseas, maybe more support than he did that day.

Hamas knows it has more support on US campuses today than it did two years ago. It also has greater support in the global south. His willingness to kill so many people will obviously make him gain more respect from Russia and China. This means that Hamas today does not feel that it lost because of the attack. It has not been replaced as the governing body in Gaza. It still controls parts of Gaza City and the central area of the Gaza camp. This includes Deir al-Balah, Bureij, Maghazi and Nuseirat. Hamas suggests that the IDF is exhausted by more than a year of war and that Israel wants to send reservists home after fighting in Lebanon.

Key questions remain about new information about Captain Omer Neutra’s death. He was a tank crew member at the Gaza border on October 7. Why didn’t the US ask Doha if he was alive after the attack? Why wasn’t more done to confirm the details and status of Americans held in Gaza? The fact that Hamas does not appear to have received any inquiries from Doha regarding the status of Americans held in Gaza is troubling. It’s a reminder of several incidents last year that also raise questions.

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On October 20, 2023, Hamas released two American women who had been held hostage for two weeks. Nothing more was heard about the story, such as why it happened, how and when it happened. Apparently, Hamas has decided to release the two Americans. Why not others? Why wasn’t there more discussion about their status at the time?

A few days later, Hamas also released two elderly women. Nothing more has been revealed about the two hostage releases in October. The question arises why the Bibas children were not released then. They were the most vulnerable of the hostages because one was an infant and the other a toddler. There are now many questions about why more was not done to pressure Hamas for key details about the hostages.

In January, it was reported that Qatar and France had reached an agreement to deliver medical aid to 45 hostages in Gaza. Nothing was done to confirm whether help had reached the hostages. why Why has basic details about the hostages, details that would help families waiting for information, been systematically shrugged off since October 7? No pressure from the US, no pressure from Doha, and it is not clear if there is any pressure from Israel.

After deciding to shift its focus from Gaza to the fight against Hezbollah, Hamas felt free to rule central Gaza and continue its rule. News that Neutra was killed on October 7 raises questions about why Hamas continues to feel it will face no consequences for its actions.