Bad News With The Good News

The three men being released on Saturday will reunite loved ones with their families, but there may be a bitter part of it, too. We read about the releases overall in a report from The Times Of Israel:

Three Israeli hostages slated for release by Hamas from Gaza on Saturday were named Friday as Ofer Calderon, 54, Keith Siegel, 65, and Yarden Bibas, 35, officials said.

Israeli officials said that the families had been notified and that Israel accepted the Hamas list.

Spouses will be reunited in the exchange:

Siegel, a dual Israeli-US citizen originally from North Carolina, was taken captive with his wife Aviva from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas-led invasion and massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Aviva was freed during a previous ceasefire in November 2023.

Another family reunion will occur tomorrow:

Calderon was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 with two of his children, who were both freed in the previous ceasefire.

It is the wife and two children of the third hostage that will most likely provide a sad ending:

Bibas, his wife Shiri, and children Ariel and Kfir were all abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Kfir was 10-months-old and Ariel was 4 at the time. Yarden was wounded during his kidnapping and was seen being abducted to Gaza separately from his wife and children.

Yarden may not know the status of his family since he was most likely never in touch with them again after he was captured, something Hamas is known for doing a way of inflicting fear in hostages. Hamas says that the three were killed but Israel can’t confirm that, although they are seriously worried that the terrorists are telling the truth:

Hamas has claimed that Shiri and the two boys were killed in captivity. Israel has not confirmed this claim but has expressed “grave concern” for their fate. Earlier this week, Israel reportedly demanded that Hamas clarify the condition of Shiri and the two small boys, who are all on the list of 33 hostages being freed in the first, 42-day phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal.

Israel’s concern is based in part because all the women and children were to be released first in the deal:

Fears for the fate of the Bibas trio have grown, as Hamas did not return them among the first hostages released. Living women and children were supposed to be freed first under the deal, followed by injured and infirm men and men over 50.

Trust me when I tell you that this psychological warfare by Hamas is totally planned. They want Jews and Israel as a nation to be hurt for as long as they can. Released hostages all testified of how they created fear in them by telling them that their loved ones were dead. They controlled them by telling them if they are set free anything they said about the conditions to the rest of the world would make it harder on the ones left behind. I’m not making any of this up as I’ve reported on this as the information came out. I pray that Yarden Bibas and his family will be reunited. Unfortunately, it may not be on this side of Heaven.

Can We Get Them All Back Next?

There are rumors that one terrorist being released could bring all the remaining hostages home as see in an article from The Jerusalem Post:

As negotiations for the second phase of the Israel-Hamas hostage swap continue, speculation is mounting over whether veteran Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti could be among those released.

Barghouti’s name keeps coming up in talks of the hostage release negotiations with Israel extremely hesitant to include him in any deal:

While Hamas has reportedly reassured his family that he will be freed, Egypt and Qatar—both key mediators in the talks—are also pressuring Israel to agree to this. However, Israeli officials remain staunchly opposed to the idea, citing his past involvement in deadly attacks and concerns over his influence.

He is a very popular man in Gaza and really in the region and his family is hoping he is released:

Barghouti, often referred to as the “Palestinian Mandela,” has long been considered a unifying figure among Palestinians, and Hamas’ recent assurances to his family have raised hopes that his freedom could be imminent. Arab Barghouti, his son, remains optimistic:

“We really trust that he will be released at the end of this because he belongs amongst the Palestinian people, and his influence is very positive for the Palestinian unity,” Barghouti said to The Media Line. 

Egypt and Qatar believe releasing him would stabilize the region:

Meanwhile, Egyptian and Qatari officials have continued to pressure Israel, arguing that releasing Barghouti could help stabilize the Palestinian political landscape. His name has surfaced repeatedly in past prisoner exchange discussions, but Israel has consistently refused to consider his release.

Barghouti has a history fighting Israel:

A prominent Palestinian political figure, Barghouti was a key player during the First and Second Intifadas, advocating for Palestinian self-determination and a two-state solution. He joined Fatah in his youth and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of its most influential figures.

In the 1980s, he helped establish Tanzim, the military faction of Fatah, which played a significant role in organizing “resistance activities.” Despite his later imprisonment, he remains a symbol of Palestinian resistance and is seen by many as a potential future leader. He was sentenced in 2004 to five life sentences for his role in orchestrating attacks that killed Israelis. However, his supporters argue that he has always championed a political resolution to the conflict.

His son paints him in a different light, though:

“My father is someone who believes in the two-state solution. He worked very hard in the 90s for it,” his son, Arab Barghouti, explained. “This is exactly why you will hear not only international or Palestinian leaders calling for his release but also Israeli leaders who understand his influence,” he added.

He Has Wide Impact

This terrorist is seen as man who could be an agent for peace:

His influence extends beyond Palestine. Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter, among others, have called for his release and viewed him as a potential peacemaker.

Politically he is also seen as a uniter of the various terrorist blocs:

Barghouti is also widely respected for authoring the Prisoners’ Document, a pivotal agreement that united all major Palestinian factions—including Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad—under a shared political vision. Drafted while he was in prison, this document was considered a groundbreaking effort toward Palestinian unity and strategic cooperation.

It should concern anyone with any common sense that elevating this terrorist to the status of Nelson Mandela simply because he can get the likes of Fatah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad to work together is ludicrous. But many Jewish leaders are more disapproving:

While many Palestinians see Barghouti as a leader who can unite factions and guide them toward political stability, his release remains deeply contentious in Israel. Critics highlight his conviction for attacks during the Intifadas, raising concerns about the precedent his release would set.

One such person is Nitsana Darshan-Leitner:

“It’s painful. It’s outrageous. Victims are outraged,” said Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, president of Shurat HaDin to The Media Line. “How can it be that someone responsible for so many deaths could walk free? This is not just about Barghouti—it’s about justice for all victims."

She doesn’t just talk a good fight, though:

Darshan-Leitner, a prominent Israeli attorney and activist, has spent decades leading the legal battle against Palestinian and Islamic terrorist organizations through Shurat HaDin, an independent civil rights group based in Tel Aviv. Under her leadership, the organization has represented hundreds of terror victims in lawsuits against entities including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Authority, Iran, Syria, and major financial institutions accused of funding terrorism. Shurat HaDin has secured over $1 billion in judgments, frozen more than $600 million in terrorist assets, and collected $120 million in payments for victims and their families.

She maintains that his release would not set a good precedent:

“Barghouti is not just any prisoner,” the lawyer pointed out. “His release would send a message that acts of terror can be forgiven, which is a dangerous precedent. The pain of the victims' families cannot simply be ignored in political negotiations,” Darshan-Leitner added.

Barghouti’s family see him as akin to a saint, a loving father and husband who wants Israel and Palestinians to live in peace and harmony. He’s even been nominated for a Nobel Peace prize.

On One Condition

However his release is nowhere guaranteed nor is the next phases of the current ceasefire dealas Darshan-Leitner tells us:

Despite Hamas’ reassurances and the involvement of mediators, Barghouti’s release is far from certain. Israeli officials remain adamant that they will not free him, and the second stage of the hostage deal negotiations remains fraught with complexities.

“I don’t see how the second phase is going to work,” Darshan-Leitner noted. “The agreement states that it must end with Hamas no longer armed and no longer in power. That’s not realistic,” she added.

There is only under one condition that his release makes sense:

However, she suggested that Barghouti’s release could be considered if it guaranteed the return of all hostages.

“If Israel offers Marwan Barghouti, only Marwan Barghouti, in return for all the Israeli hostages, they should release him,” she said. “But if he is part of a broader deal with hundreds of convicted Palestinian prisoners, then no,” she added.

Barghouti is very troublesome man:

The potential release of Barghouti remains a deeply divisive issue. While his supporters see him as a future leader capable of guiding Palestinians toward unity and peace, his critics view him as a dangerous figure whose freedom could reignite violence.

His son still sees him as beacon of light:

Arab Barghouti, however, remains hopeful: “I trust that one day we will all wake up to a free Palestine, where Palestinians will all live in dignity, just as my father has always believed. Like any other nation.”

His son sees him much differently than do his critics. I think letting him go if it means getting all the hostages back in one fell swoop most of Israel might consider it a victory. However for the long term it would only increase the likelihood of a regional war led by him. Uniting these terrorist factions and their followers only make them more dangerous and getting true peace impossible. If we really want the peace of Jerusalem this isn’t the way to get there. Your mileage may vary, though.