Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Mossfern

(4,107 posts)
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:10 PM Monday

I have a question - it's sincere and I'd appreciate thoughful answers- no snark

Do you think if the remaining hostages in Gaza were returned to Israel in a respectful way that it would allow for Israel to withdraw while saving face? Do you think it will further the peace process? Isn't that the main concern of the Israeli government? Apparently keeping them is not helping their cause.

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I have a question - it's sincere and I'd appreciate thoughful answers- no snark (Original Post) Mossfern Monday OP
I would answe 'no' to all your questions. Netanyahu could care less about hostages. He's determined to wipe out sinkingfeeling Monday #1
Events will reveal themselves, once the IDF leaves ... marble falls Monday #2
I doubt it but it would be amazing to try, efhmc Monday #3
Netanyahu's main goal is to stay in office and out of jail, hostages be damned DavidDvorkin Monday #4
That's kind of what I'm thinking. Mossfern Monday #5
I believe netanyahu is only interested in taking the land and resources of Gaza.... Think. Again. Monday #6
And by whatever, we both know he's totally capable of any sort of "whatever". marble falls Monday #7
Yeah, smallpox infected blankets are so 1776. Think. Again. Monday #10
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. Ping Tung Monday #8
At one point i would have said yes. Samael13 Monday #9
No, none of that would help, unfortunately obamanut2012 Monday #11
How would it put Hamas out of business in Gaza? Frasier Balzov Monday #12
No to all. This is Netanyahu's Final Solution of the Palestinian Problem surfered Monday #13
To Netenyahu, there are no innocents in Gaza... haele Monday #18
I think it's gotten beyond that particular point Torchlight Monday #14
Are any Hamas leaders still alive? Bmoboy Monday #15
IMHO: possibly, but Hamas are accelerationists so they'll let Gaza burn if it hastens Israel's downfall 0rganism Monday #16
no, no, and no mike_c Monday #17
No, returning hostages won't allow for anything unless BB is in jail and not replaced by another war monger uponit7771 Monday #19

sinkingfeeling

(55,956 posts)
1. I would answe 'no' to all your questions. Netanyahu could care less about hostages. He's determined to wipe out
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:17 PM
Monday

all Palestinians in Gaza.

marble falls

(67,064 posts)
2. Events will reveal themselves, once the IDF leaves ...
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:18 PM
Monday

... as if Netanyahu would ever withdraw them. IDF over kill in Gaza takes the attention off Netanyahu's other dirty secrets.

DavidDvorkin

(20,262 posts)
4. Netanyahu's main goal is to stay in office and out of jail, hostages be damned
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:25 PM
Monday

However, if all the hostages were returned, the pressure from the Israeli public to end the war would become overwhelming. He would have to accede or see his government fall.

Mossfern

(4,107 posts)
5. That's kind of what I'm thinking.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:28 PM
Monday

The hostages are really of no use to Hamas any more and there would certainly be intense pressure to withdraw. Not everyone in Israel is eager to participate in the IDF in this instance. People will serve, because it's their duty, but I think that many will push for withdrawal.

 

Think. Again.

(22,456 posts)
6. I believe netanyahu is only interested in taking the land and resources of Gaza....
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:30 PM
Monday

....and will do whatever to remove the current occupants.

Ping Tung

(3,080 posts)
8. Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:36 PM
Monday
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Samael13

(45 posts)
9. At one point i would have said yes.
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:36 PM
Monday

Netanyahu wants to keep this going so he cant be held accountable for his crimes and now has a like-minded person in the white house unless someone in the Israeli government forces Netanyahu out and Trump suffers major losses in the midterms the only way this ends is in a total war on the middle east.

Frasier Balzov

(4,467 posts)
12. How would it put Hamas out of business in Gaza?
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:43 PM
Monday

Since putting Hamas out of business in Gaza is Israel's stated goal?

surfered

(8,044 posts)
13. No to all. This is Netanyahu's Final Solution of the Palestinian Problem
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:44 PM
Monday

With no empathy for the innocents.

haele

(14,410 posts)
18. To Netenyahu, there are no innocents in Gaza...
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 02:30 PM
Monday

His and his political allies occasional use of "Amalek" imagery pretty well shows they have no intention of giving anyone living in Gaza the benefit of any doubt of guilt. They're all Hamas, likewise, any Arab living in the West Bank is an enemy.
Ultra-orthodoxy and the desire to retain some semblance of political relevancy to maintain power is driving these events - on both sides.

Torchlight

(5,165 posts)
14. I think it's gotten beyond that particular point
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:50 PM
Monday

Releasing hostages would be a sign of good faith, but given the intransigence and self-serving actions of those taking the hostages for their own purpose, I doubt it would occur.

Should it happen though, I think most on all sides would just rationalize "can't stop now, the Rubicon's already been crossed" and the mess goes on, the fingers get more pointed, and we mostly see only what best suits out own biases.

0rganism

(25,249 posts)
16. IMHO: possibly, but Hamas are accelerationists so they'll let Gaza burn if it hastens Israel's downfall
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:52 PM
Monday

Netanyahu and Hamas appear to be aligned on the destruction of Gaza and the extermination of its residents. The Big Beautiful Trump Golf Resort that arises in place of Gaza City will become a nasty orange stain on the history of the nation of Israel and an albatross around the neck of every Jew on the planet.

So even if a hostage return could help the situation resolve peacefully, neither side of the conflict benefits from this so it's quite unlikely -- both sides will sabotage such efforts while trying to frame the other side in the worst way possible. We'd need to see a third party take decisive action for a hostage return to be viable.

mike_c

(36,630 posts)
17. no, no, and no
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 02:02 PM
Monday

No snark. I believe Israel's goal is genocide of the Palestinian refugee population in Gaza and complete annexation of the West Bank. Regardless of their pretending otherwise, I believe they intend total annihilation of the descendents of the refugees.

I once thought very highly of Israel. No more.

uponit7771

(93,097 posts)
19. No, returning hostages won't allow for anything unless BB is in jail and not replaced by another war monger
Mon Jul 21, 2025, 02:32 PM
Monday

Then MAYBE there's a chance at peace

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»I have a question - it's ...