The trials and tribulations of an Israel-Hamas hostage deal

Talking with your enemy during wartime is one of the most psychologically stressful things for a combatant to do. Haggling with the same people trying to kill you leaves a bad taste in the mouth. And yet, more times than not, talking and fighting at the same time is a necessity, both to explore possible avenues out of the war and to win back the release of hostages or soldiers in enemy hands.

Despite the rhetoric from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel also has a dialogue going with Hamas, the terrorist group that swept into southern Israel and committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. While Israeli and Hamas officials aren’t talking to each other directly, they are using intermediaries such as Qatar to deliver messages, exchange proposals and see whether a deal over hostages is possible.

While nobody knows how many hostages Hamas has in its custody, the number is thought to be around 240 people. Many of them are civilians of all ages, from babies to senior citizens. Where those hostages are being held is also a mystery, but the Israelis suspect a good portion are housed in the labyrinth underground tunnel system Hamas has constructed in the 17 years the group has ruled Gaza.

All of this presents a problem for the tens of thousands of Israeli troops combing northern Gaza: How can Israel square an intense military offensive in a densely populated area with the goal of bringing innocent civilians back to their families alive?

Read article in The Chicago Tribune