Everyone wants the war in Gaza to end. The reason the war is not over is because about 50 people are still being held hostage by Hamas.
Twenty of them are alive, but on the brink of death. About 30 of them have already been killed, and their bodies remain in Hamas captivity.
There are differing opinions on the best way to bring them home: continue the ground war in Gaza, or take the partial deal put forward by Qatar and Egypt—which includes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for hundreds of security prisoners.
This war is one where everyone has an opinion. But in my view, no opinion matters more than those of the families whose loved ones, including their children, are living in Hamas terror tunnels. These families are in a collective debate about the best way to bring their loved ones home.
So I want to play a really special episode from Conversations with Coleman that illuminates these differences, and showcases arguably the largest debate in Israeli society today.
Coleman Hughes sat down with three hostage families: Tzvika Mor, the father of Eitan Mor, a 23-year-old security guard at the Nova Music Festival taken by Hamas; Talik Gvili, the mother of Ran Gvili, who on October 7 leaped into action and fought Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Alumim; and Dalia Cusnir, the sister-in-law of brothers Iair and Eitan Horn. Iair Horn was released, and Eitan Horn remains in Hamas custody.
Today, their families tell their stories and explain what they think is the best way to bring their family members home.
Transcript, please.
The welfare of the group (in this case, Israel) must take prioroty over the welfare of a few individuals (in this care, the hostages). My heart goes out to the hostage families, but this is the most sane way to deal with the insanity of Hamas. If the hostages die, it will be for a very noble cause: the long-term security of Israel.