I honestly didn’t expect this absent a massive series of raids by Israel. The remaining living hostages in Gaza have been returned to Israel. All male, as outside of those already returned, Hamass raped and murdered any female hostages. Never forget Hamass started this war with an unprovoked attack aimed a maximum civilian casualties and atrocity. The recent release of orders from leadership confirms this.
Already there seem to be some games with the bodies of the dead. That would be a mistake I think, as it will trigger not only responses from Israel and the U.S., but there is reason to believe it also triggers actions by other Muslim countries involved in the process. Hamass not being a rational actor, however, does not fill me with a lot of optimism. We will see.
The hope I mentioned the other day in this post has been met, for which I do truly give thanks to God. Again, I’ve never expected to get this many of the remaining hostages out alive. For all I’ve prayed for it, I’m also too well aware of the reality that is Hamass (and Hezballess) and what around 90-95 percent of the population of Gaza support and has consistently supported since around 2005 (and the surveys started). They do not want peace, they do not want an independent state (which they effectively had), they want the eradication of Israel and all Jews. You will probably find that within that population that same 90-95 percent are good with the statement “First the Saturday people, then the Sunday.”
I must admit to two rather uncharitable and un-Christian thoughts. The first is that the peace accord seems to have a number of hidden components, which indicate that failure to abide may have catastrophic consequences and not just from Israel and the U.S. One can hope at any rate. The second is that I would find it most interesting (and amusing) if Israel had been able to plant trackers/tracers on the terrorsts being released to secure the hostages.
It would be a true pity if they were able to track them, note who they met with and where, and built up a map similar to what led to the destruction of Hezballess. Given what was done earlier with Hezballess and others (including inside Iran), if I were in Gaza I would keep those returned terrorists at arms length for that reason and because Israel has a good track record of turning people. Just a thought.
Long-term, I still think that Hamass sees this as hudna and harbors plans accordingly. Again, while I do wonder about some of the apparently hidden protocols and agreements in place, I would be amazed if Hamass (sadly the elected government of Gaza for those who still don’t realize that) didn’t see it this way. Add in that they have been instilling their desire to eliminate all Jews (not just Israel) into toddlers, it will take generations to leach that poison out of them. That said, I expect this peace to last less than a year simply because Hamass won’t give up.
I will pray for peace, and that I am wrong. I would love to be wrong. But, I just don’t see Hamass (or even Hezballess) giving up its spots anytime soon. Then again, that nasty part of me wonders if that hasn’t already been considered. That if they fail to honor the agreement, they will be eliminated fully and completely. That such might be led/started by nations other than Israel and the U.S. There are enough whiffs of unofficial and/or “unrelated” agreements here to make me suspect a bit.
Time will tell. For now, for all my money is on hudna and taqiyya, I will hope and pray for something more, something better, and something that eliminates a huge threat to Israel and the U.S. (which originates in Iran). For all that this has been crippled, or at least knocked back for a time, I would love to see the threat eliminated, for as long as it exists true and just peace is not likely.
Today, however, I celebrate the return of the living. I mourn and remember the dead. I pray for the dead, and the survivors and their families. I celebrate a day I did not truly expect to see. Tomorrow will come soon enough, and tomorrow I leave to the Lord.
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, or help me with my pilgrimage next year, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.