I heard a disturbing report from the IDF that estimated that only 40 hostages are still alive after 6 months of war in Gaza, not the 132 that is the number usually referred to. This number was arrived at by taking the total of 252 and subtracting the 109 that were released in the exchange agreement, as well as 3 who were released by the IDF, 3 who were killed mistakenly by the IDF and 5 or so whose remains have been found in Israel or in Gaza after they were killed by Hamas. Given what the released hostages described in their captivity, they were usually subsisting on one pita a day and very little else, as well as being brutally treated, the women subjected to constant rape and the men to being tied up and beaten, one must expect a high level of mortality. Also, one must accept that the aim of Hamas is indeed to kill all Jews, so they will not hesitate to murder their Jewish captives.
In order to make it much more difficult for the IDF to locate the hostages, they were spread around to ordinary families, civilians loyal to Hamas. Some hostages were hidden in the attics of houses and others simply locked in rooms with no windows or with shutters. But it is expected that the leaders, such a Sinwar, will have several hostages nearby so that they can be used as human shields should the IDF get close. In that case a core of hostages will be kept alive by the Hamas leaders for their protection.
I am particularly concerned about the Bibas family, father and mother separated when taken into captivity and she with their two red-haired children aged 5 and 1 year old. It was so tragic to see her being forced into captivity while she shielded her babies, something that no Jew ever wants to see again, we have had enough deaths of innocent women and children as well as men during the Shoah.
To say that the Hamas members are primitive and evil is an understatement. I hope all those hiding Israeli hostages face a painful death. It is so terrible that the bulk of the demonstrators on US campuses, led mostly by Arab students, are supporting Hamas when they are so obviously and overtly evil. They are more akin to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS), than to the traditional Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO that includes Fatah). If the American fellow travellers, especially socialists, liberals and LBTQ individuals are ever in Gaza they will also share the fate of these Israeli hostages.
PS. Note that I have added my show at the Artist’s Hose in Beersheva titled “Creatures” to my web-site http://www.jackscohen.com under Art/Shows
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