Ep. 1855 – Israel’s Hostage Deal With Hamas | The Ben Shapiro Show

Intro

In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben discusses Israel’s hostage deal with Hamas. The Israeli war cabinet has approved the release of 50 Israeli citizens held by Hamas, along with the release of 150 Palestinian terrorists. The deal has sparked controversy within Israel, with concerns about potential retaliation from Hamas. Ben explores the implications of the deal and the challenges Israel faces in dealing with Hamas.

Main Takeaways

Israel’s Hostage Deal with Hamas

• The Israeli war cabinet approved a hostage deal with Hamas, releasing 50 Israeli citizens, mostly women and children, in batches of 12-13 per day.
• Israel will pause its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip for each day of releases and will pause air operations for six hours daily in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
• The deal also involves the release of 150 Palestinian terrorists, additional fuel into Gaza, and allowing the International Red Cross access to the hostages.
• The deal is supported by the Israeli Defense Forces, the Shinbet, and Masad, and is controversial within Israel due to concerns about potential retaliation from Hamas.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on the potential release of more hostages, a refusal to release terrorists convicted of murder, and a commitment by Hamas to locate other hostages held by other terror groups in the Gaza Strip.

Concerns and Debates

• There are concerns that as the cordon tightens around Hamas, they may start killing hostages, prompting the urgency to free as many hostages as possible before that happens.
• Supporters of the deal advocate for bringing the hostages home quickly and destroying Hamas.
• Critics recall the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal, where Israel released 1027 prisoners, including those responsible for hundreds of Israeli deaths.
• Opponents fear that the global community will pressure Israel for further de-escalation with Hamas, potentially leaving Hamas in place.
• Hamas claims the pause as a propaganda victory, hoping to portray a truce as a standstill against Israel.

The Role of Foreign Policy

• Foreign policy decisions made in distant places have real impacts inside the United States.
• Isolationism has real costs for the American taxpayer, consumer, and families.
• The American economy and way of life are directly affected by foreign policy.
• Engaging in diplomacy and brokering international agreements is necessary for the United States.
• Second-order thinking requires looking beyond immediate problems and considering global impacts.

Ukraine-Russia Conflict

• The Ukrainian forces have failed to achieve a decisive breakthrough during a six-month counteroffensive.
• American support for Ukrainian action should continue until a stalemate is reached.
• The United States needs to have direct conversations with Ukraine and reduce emphasis on liberating land.
• The Israeli military is capable of defeating Hamas, a small terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.
• The Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, made a surprise trip to Ukraine to rally support and suggested that Ukrainian forces would be more aggressive in fighting Russian forces.

Summary

Israel’s Hostage Deal with Hamas

The Israeli war cabinet has approved a hostage deal with Hamas, which involves the release of 50 Israeli citizens held by Hamas and 150 Palestinian terrorists. The hostages will be released in batches, and Israel will pause its offensive against Hamas for each day of releases. The deal is supported by the Israeli Defense Forces, the Shinbet, and Masad, but it is controversial within Israel due to concerns about potential retaliation from Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on more hostage releases, a refusal to release terrorists convicted of murder, and a commitment by Hamas to locate other hostages held by other terror groups in the Gaza Strip.

Concerns and Debates

There are concerns that as the cordon tightens around Hamas, they may start killing hostages, which emphasizes the urgency to free as many hostages as possible. Supporters of the deal argue for bringing the hostages home quickly and destroying Hamas. Critics point to the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal as a cautionary tale, where Israel released prisoners responsible for Israeli deaths. Opponents fear that pressure from the global community may lead to further de-escalation with Hamas, potentially leaving Hamas in place. Hamas sees the pause in fighting as a propaganda victory, portraying it as a standstill against Israel.

The Role of Foreign Policy

This episode highlights the importance of foreign policy decisions for the United States. Isolationism has real costs for American taxpayers, consumers, and families. Engaging in diplomacy and brokering international agreements is necessary for the United States. Second-order thinking, considering global impacts beyond immediate problems, is crucial in foreign policy decision-making.

Ukraine-Russia Conflict

The Ukrainian forces have struggled to achieve a decisive breakthrough in their counteroffensive against Russian forces. American support for Ukraine should continue until a stalemate is reached. Direct conversations with Ukraine and a reduced emphasis on liberating land are necessary. In a separate context, the Israeli military is capable of defeating Hamas, a small terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.

Conclusion

The hostage deal between Israel and Hamas has sparked debate and controversy within Israel. Concerns about potential retaliation from Hamas, the release of terrorists, and the future of the conflict are at the forefront. The episode also highlights the importance of foreign policy decisions and the challenges faced in dealing with terrorist groups like Hamas. As the situation unfolds, Israel’s primary goal remains the reestablishment of deterrence and security.