'Hamas doesn't know where the hostages are': Sinwar expert offers an alternative view

[Claira]

Micha Kobi, a former senior member of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), emphasized the enormous challenges Israel faces in dealing with Hamas and the return of the hostages in an interview on Sunday with Maariv.

Micha Kobi is a former senior member of the Shin Bet and Yahya Sinwar's interrogator from his time in Israeli prison.

"The main headquarters of Hamas is no longer operational, but nevertheless - there are other guerilla fighters who are fighting throughout the region on behalf of the organization, within the framework of local and even neighborhood headquarters of Hamas. Today, no one in all of Hamas knows exactly where all the hostages are being held."

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-827358

[+and-then]

His solution seems like the only means forward.  It will take a lot of time and likely involve ongoing casualties but removing the power of those thugs to intimidate the people is the only way to remove the problem.  I suspect that the unwritten rule will have to be that those who assist Hamas, ARE Hamas.  I hope they are able to stand firm on removing UNRWA, PERIOD.

ETA:  Paying for the hostages might well be the only way now to get them out.  It would likely involve more than money though.  If they give up a hostage and are paid and Hamas members become aware of it, they won't live long, so they - and their family - would have to be provided a way out of the enclave.

Edited November 3 by and-then

[Claira]

Hamas has rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire and hostage release deal, the State Department says. The revelation is made in a US readout issued on Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Sunday call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. Blinken “noted that Hamas has once again refused to release even a limited number of hostages to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza,” the US readout says.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-4-2024/#liveblog-entry-3411916

[Cho Jinn]

It's leadership is being plinked like soda cans, and yet they refuse to even forestall that.  Maybe....there are no hostages left with which to bargain?

[Claira]

13 hours ago, Cho Jinn said:

It's leadership is being plinked like soda cans, and yet they refuse to even forestall that.  Maybe....there are no hostages left with which to bargain?

We estimate that at least half of the remaining hostages are still alive. It's now just a matter of finding them as the possibility of a negotiated release is slim next to none.

[Claira]

Official confirms PM offering ‘millions of dollars,’ safe passage to Gaza captors if hostages released

An Israeli official confirms a Channel 12 report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to offer captors of hostages in Gaza “several million dollars” for the release of each hostage. The prime minister is also prepared to guarantee “safe passage” out of Gaza for captors and their families who release hostages, says the official.

The idea was discussed in Sunday’s meeting on the hostages with government pointman Gal Hirsch. The official also confirms the US State Department’s statement on Monday that Hamas had rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire and hostage release deal.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/official-confirms-pm-offering-millions-of-dollars-safe-passage-to-gaza-captors-if-hostages-released/

Edited November 5 by Claira
Fixed formatting.

[Gromdor]

7 hours ago, Claira said:

Official confirms PM offering ‘millions of dollars,’ safe passage to Gaza captors if hostages released

An Israeli official confirms a Channel 12 report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to offer captors of hostages in Gaza “several million dollars” for the release of each hostage. The prime minister is also prepared to guarantee “safe passage” out of Gaza for captors and their families who release hostages, says the official.

The idea was discussed in Sunday’s meeting on the hostages with government pointman Gal Hirsch. The official also confirms the US State Department’s statement on Monday that Hamas had rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire and hostage release deal.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/official-confirms-pm-offering-millions-of-dollars-safe-passage-to-gaza-captors-if-hostages-released/

Really, he is giving them money?  You know the rockets Hamas uses cost $300-800 each so a few million dollars will buy another couple thousand or so.  But I guess they need the money to continue the cycle.  Bibi at least got to stay in power and distract from his criminal investigations during all this,  

[Claira]

2 hours ago, Gromdor said:

Really, he is giving them money?  You know the rockets Hamas uses cost $300-800 each so a few million dollars will buy another couple thousand or so.  But I guess they need the money to continue the cycle.  Bibi at least got to stay in power and distract from his criminal investigations during all this,  

The other cycle that will be continued is that of hostage taking. One should never pay or do anything else that might encourage such a thing. If he's got millions to blow, that money should go to the hostages, not the terrorists holding them captive. But desperate times call for desperate measures I guess.

[+and-then]

3 hours ago, Gromdor said:

Bibi at least got to stay in power and distract from his criminal investigations during all this,  

That's because he knows he's dealing with Leftist punks who'd rather see him taken down than be more concerned about their nation being at war.  That's just how the global Left rolls.  I was happy today to see he started kicking them out of his government.

[Claira]

PIJ releases new sign-of-life video of hostage Alexander Troufanov

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror organization released a new sign-of-life video on Wednesday of Russian-Israeli hostage Alexander Troufanov, who has remained in Hamas captivity since October 7.

In the video, Troufanov said that he and the other hostages are running out of food and basic hygiene products. He called on the Israeli public to continue to push for a deal to bring the hostages home.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-828903

[CrimsonKing]

7 hours ago, Claira said:

PIJ releases new sign-of-life video of hostage Alexander Troufanov

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror organization released a new sign-of-life video on Wednesday of Russian-Israeli hostage Alexander Troufanov, who has remained in Hamas captivity since October 7.

In the video, Troufanov said that he and the other hostages are running out of food and basic hygiene products. He called on the Israeli public to continue to push for a deal to bring the hostages home.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-828903

Do Israelis believe this scum has any thought of ever releasing the hostages?

It's just starting to seem like they are holding them to cause "emotional" terrorism and try and cause discord among the population.

It's sickening.

[CrimsonKing]

https://nypost.com/2024/11/13/us-news/israeli-reporter-neria-kraus-speaks-out-after-biden-rebuke/

Kind of an odd response to say the least.

[Claira]

1 hour ago, CrimsonKing said:

Do Israelis believe this scum has any thought of ever releasing the hostages?

It's just starting to seem like they are holding them to cause "emotional" terrorism and try and cause discord among the population.

It's sickening.

No we don't believe it. The minute Hamas and the PIJ release the hostages, they know it will be game over.

[Claira]

40 minutes ago, CrimsonKing said:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/13/us-news/israeli-reporter-neria-kraus-speaks-out-after-biden-rebuke/

Kind of an odd response to say the least.

He's become such a creep. What a stupid and disrespectful response.

[Claira]

White House: Biden raised issue of US hostages held in Gaza during meeting with Trump

US President Joe Biden raised the issue of the American hostages in Gaza during his Oval Office meeting earlier today with President-elect Donald Trump, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says.

The current administration has also sent a “signal” to the Trump transition team that it is prepared to collaborate in order to secure a hostage deal, Sullivan says during a press briefing.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/white-house-biden-raised-issue-of-us-hostages-held-in-gaza-during-meeting-with-trump/