There’s been a sudden reversal: instead of Israel begging for information, offering concessions, and shouting “everyone now!” regarding the hostages in Gaza, Hamas is the one demanding proof of life and the immediate release of its members, who are of course vile murderers, not innocent civilians. The real number is apparently below 200—much lower—and life in tunnels under the boots of the IDF is not exactly a recipe for longevity.
The Rafah story is a critical test—a turning point in Israel’s relationship with its enemies. For decades, Israel normalized a protection racket culture—paying the bully so that he won’t bully. Hamas and Hezbollah invented countless forms of extortion—border marches, balloons, Qassam rockets, tunnels, tents—and Israel was willing to pay dearly, just for quiet.
That equation flipped on October 7. From that moment, and for the past two years, Israel was the one saying, “hold me back.” We remember the campaigns: “just not a ground maneuver,” then “just don’t enter Lebanon,” “just don’t strike the Dahieh,” and “just don’t enter Rafah.” Every time Israel initiated an attack, the world had to pay to make it stop.
So it was too with the strike in Qatar. The mediators, Hamas, and the entire axis were sure Israel had lost control. They were ready to pressure Hamas in ways they hadn’t for two years—just to calm down “the Zionists.” That’s how the deal bringing 20 hostages home was cooked up.
Now, following the ceasefire, the whole world is trying to push Israel back into a defensive stance. The same country that once adopted a doctrine of keeping wars within its borders fought on seven fronts simultaneously. The world doesn’t like that. Jews, after all, are expected to defend, not attack.
And so we arrive at the 200 terrorists in Rafah. The mediators demand Israel releases them in exchange for quiet, for some grand peace plan. And this is the test: will Israel revert to what it was two years ago, or has the lesson been learned? Will the world pay Israel to calm down, or will it be the other way around?
The above is an excerpt from my Shabbat column in Israel Hayom. Read it on Israel Hayom’s website here.
