A hostage swap deal, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to, was not a good one for his country. But it was a necessary deal with long-range benefits because his supposed ally is really an ally again, Joel Rosenberg said on American Family Radio Wednesday.
Middle East peace now hangs by a thread as Hamas threatens to delay the next scheduled release of hostages it has held since Oct. 7, 2023, when it murdered more than 1,200 Israeli citizens and kidnapped hundreds more.
Netanyahu said Tuesday, “The Israeli military will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” if Hamas fails to release hostages Saturday.
Netanyahu hasn’t been clear whether he means all of the estimated remaining 73 hostages should be released or if another minimal offering of three or four will be enough to maintain the ceasefire.
But President Donald Trump has been very clear.
“If all the Gaza hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire. Let all hell break loose,” Trump said.
“I am grateful to President Trump who is not taking this anymore. You know, he's sickened by it,” Rosenberg, a journalist, publisher and regional analyst told show host Jenna Ellis.
Trump triggered by frail hostages
Israel has celebrated the 21 total hostages released under the deal which took effect on Jan. 19, but the nation was horrified at the physical well-being of three men -- Elii Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56 and Or Levy, 34 – who were released last weekend.
Many compared their appearance to Holocaust survivors as they stood on stage before armed terrorists, forced into a propaganda event as one last act of humiliation.
That sent Trump over the top, Rosenberg said.
“When Hamas said on Monday that they're going to stop even releasing hostages based on alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal, Trump had had it. Forget it, he said. Everybody has to be out. Every hostage has to be out by noon on Saturday or the ceasefire is over.”
If Hamas misses the deadline “all hell will be unleased, and Israel will be free to go in and crush Hamas once and for all,” Rosenberg said.
But it will be a different Hamas that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) face if fighting resumes.
Hamas forces, not long ago rendered almost irrelevant by the deaths of fighters and key commanders – in the range of 15,000 deaths according to reports -- will be stronger thanks to the recently released prisoners, 550 in all, according to reports.
“They’re radical Hamas and other Islamist Palestinian terrorists who have blood on their hands, who have murdered, in some cases dozens of Israelis, terrorists who have raped and tortured Israelis. Hamas is using innocent pawns to get actual convicted, bloodthirsty terrorists" back in the fight, Rosenberg said.
It wasn’t a deal Netanyahu wanted, but it was one he could make because of Trump’s support.
Rosenberg praised the work of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.
It’s a different day than when Joe Biden delayed U.S. arms shipments to Israel.
“Those days are over, this idea of tying one hand behind your back, not giving you the weapons you need, not giving you the political and moral support that you need to get the job done,” Rosenberg said.
Netanyahu’s comments came after a four-hour meeting with his Security Cabinet, Chris Mitchell, the Middle East bureau chief for the Christian Broadcasting Network, said on Washington Watch Tuesday.
IDF forces are operating under their highest alert level right now, Mitchell told show host Tony Perkins. Vacations have been cancelled, reservists have been called in.
Like Rosenberg, Mitchell saw even greater resolve in Trump once the three Israelis were paraded on stage in such a fragile condition.
“I think it really upset personally President Trump, and that’s part of the reason for his ultimatum, why he has laid down the gauntlet,” Mitchell said. “It’s really giving Israel latitude to do what they need to do since they’re already here with boots on the ground, ready to go in if necessary.”
Pressure building on Netanyahu
Israelis remain divided on how to respond to Hamas, some favoring diplomacy while any hostages held by the terrorists remain alive, others saying the time is now to go in and fully eliminate Hamas.
“You have members of the coalition government led by Netanyahu saying this is the time to go in, that we need to defeat Hamas. Certainly we want to make sure that the hostages are safe, but we have to eliminate this evil right on our doorstep,” Mitchell said.
Pressure is building on Netanyahu from the conservative Likud Party that believes fighting should resume if all hostages are not released Saturday.
“The next few days are going to be crucial for Israel as we go up to the crescendo Saturday at noon here in Israel,” Mitchell said. “It’s a horrific reality show being played out in real time.”
