Hamas
“Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home,” said Mandy Damari, whose daughter Emily was one of the three freed hostages.
The very thought of negotiating with terrorists represents a strategic disaster. Yet Israel’s willingness to trade hundreds of hardened criminals to get back a handful of hostages is a powerful message of light triumphing over darkness.
The president thanked his team and especially envoy Brett McGurk, the lead U.S. negotiator on the Israel-Hamas deal.
“We won’t stop until the last one is back,” says Herut Nimrodi, whose son Tamir is still a prisoner in Gaza,
If the terrorists renege on the hostage deal, Mike Waltz added, the U.S. “will support Israel in doing what it has to do.”
The three women are on their way home.
Steve Witkoff plans to visit the region often in the coming weeks to keep the ceasefire deal moving forward.
The president-elect has warned that the truce with Hamas “better hold,” or “all hell will break out.”
After the return of the hostages is confirmed by Jerusalem, the Red Cross will transport the released prisoners to release points.
The U.S. president-elect told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “This has to end. We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done.”
Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari are the first captives to be released by Hamas as part of the release deal.
Despite maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border, Israel’s exit from Netzarim and delegation of checkpoints to U.S. contractors are disturbing vulnerabilities.
