Israel Gives Ultimatum to Hamas: No More Releases Until Hamas Fulfills Its Obligations

The images coming from the Middle East conflict leave no room for doubt: Hamas has surpassed all limits of cruelty and cynicism. Over the weekend, we witnessed a sinister spectacle in which the terrorist organization tried to turn the release of hostages into a propaganda ceremony. In response, Israel has made a clear and firm decision: no more releases of Hamas prisoners will take place until agreements are honored seriously and without manipulation.

The whole world saw the inhumanity with which Hamas treated the Israeli hostages. In an act of indescribable cruelty, two hostages were forced to witness the release of other captives, only to be returned to captivity moments later. This scene, a true psychological blow, demonstrates Hamas’s total lack of humanity and its absolute disregard for human life.

Israel has been firm: the manipulation of hostages for political and propaganda purposes will not be tolerated. Consequently, the release of the 602 Palestinian prisoners that Hamas expected has been suspended. The decision is based on a fundamental principle: respect for human life and the rejection of using prisoners as pieces in a media spectacle.

The Israeli leadership, backed by the support of its people and international allies, has set an ultimatum: if Hamas does not hand over the bodies of four Israeli citizens by midnight, there will be no additional releases. This message is clear: Israel will not give in to extortion nor allow the lives of its citizens to be used as bargaining chips.

Beyond the horror of these events, an additional issue has caused great outrage: the silence and inaction of the International Red Cross. Documents and testimonies reveal that the organization was aware of the hostages’ situation in Gaza but took no significant action to assist them. The images of terrified hostages, abandoned to their fate while Hamas used them for its macabre strategy, have made it clear that the international community must take action.

One of the most heartbreaking cases is that of Avera Mengistu, a young Israeli man with a mental disability who has been in Hamas’s hands for more than a decade. Recent images show a visibly weakened man, psychologically affected, and unable to communicate with his family. This level of cruelty has no place in the 21st century, and the responsibility lies not only with the terrorists who kidnapped him but also with the institutions that failed to protect the victims of these crimes.

The future of Gaza is at stake, and Israel’s decision is a reminder that it will not negotiate with terrorists who despise human life. Hamas has made it clear that it does not seek peace but the continuation of its violent agenda. Israel, on the other hand, has reaffirmed its commitment to the security of its people and the defense of the values that sustain the world’s democracies.

In this situation, the world cannot remain silent. The international community must demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and hold Hamas accountable for its crimes. Justice cannot wait and, as demonstrated this weekend, Israel is willing to take the necessary measures to protect its people.

The determination of the Israeli people and the strength of their leadership remind us that, in the face of terror and barbarism, firmness is the only possible response. Hamas has taken its cruelty to unacceptable limits. It is time to end this tragedy and ensure that no other hostage has to suffer what so many innocent victims have already endured.