The reactions to the impending ceasefire and hostage/prisoner trade are extraordinary.
Let’s first review the losses for each side:
Gaza:
Hamas’ entire upper leadership killed
Tens of thousands of fighters killed (vastly outnumbering whoever will be released in the trade), many more injured
Tens of thousands of civilians killed, many more injured
Utterly catastrophic devastation
Seemingly invincible allies (Hezbollah, Assad) defeated
Major sponsor (Iran) weakened and shamed
Israel:
Nearly a thousand civilians killed
Nearly a thousand soldiers killed, many more injured
Hostage situation
National trauma
Some economic harm
Significant long-term international political damage
It seems clear that while Israel’s losses are significant, Gaza’s losses far, far, far outweigh them.
Now let’s switch and look at the gains. First at Israel:
Major threats from Hezbollah spectacularly near-neutralized
Major threats from Israel’s biggest enemy, Iran, spectacularly decreased
Hamas leadership and tens of thousands of fighters eliminated
Restoration of deterrence in Middle East - it’s accepted that Israel can and will strike anywhere
Internally, a widespread understanding that the nation needs to be stronger and more cohesive
Without downplaying the verious serious losses and harm on Israel’s side, these are very significant gains. Now let’s look at Gaza’s gains:
A military/terrorist blow dealt to Israel
Political and economic harm inflicted on Israel
These are not significant benefits for people in Gaza.
At this point, it should be the situation that Israel is celebrating, and Gaza is in mourning. But what we’re actually seeing is more or less the opposite.
In Israel, whether people think the ceasefire/exchange is a great idea or a terrible idea (personally I have no idea), nobody is celebrating.
In Gaza, and among their supporters abroad, while some are bemoaning the terrible catastrophe that Hamas brought upon them, a lot of people are celebrating. Some are celebrating a release from destruction, but many are celebrating a victory. They think that Hamas did a great thing on October 7th and they can’t wait for it to do something similar again.
Why are the reactions the opposite of what one might expect? The reason is the difference between Israeli (Jewish) culture and Palestinian (Islamic) culture.
For Israel, the priority is the life and wellbeing of Israel. It’s not about how much harm one does to one’s enemies; it’s about how much harm there has been to one’s own side, and whether one’s own nation is surviving and thriving.
For many of the Palestinians, on the other hand, it’s primarily about honor, which in turn relates to how much harm one does to one’s enemies. That’s much more important than how much harm one’s own people suffers in the process.
This is exactly why the conflict started a hundred years ago. For so many Arabs, it was more important that the Jews should not have a state than that the Palestinians should have a state. And this is exactly why the various peace talks over the decades failed. And, barring some extraordinary radical change in the Palestinian and global mindset, this is why there will be no peaceful resolution.
Trump sold out. He knew he couldn't keep his word that there would be Hell to pay if Hamas doesn't release the hostages so he forced Israel into the deal. Once again Israel is kicked around and Hamas continues to get what it wants.
Largely to blame for the war continuing and not getting our hostages back was biden and blinkens demand that we supply gaza with humanitarian aid from day one. Blinken recently admitted that this is what allowed hamas to keep fighting and resulted in not getting the hostages back sooner. What an idiot!
Who the hell gives the enemy humanitarian aid after being attacked by them. What an awful administration. Imagine if the PKK attacked Turkey and massacred 10,000 turks you think for a second they would start giving humanitarian aid to the kurds from day one.
We need stronger leaders here in Israel.
>”In Israel, whether people think the ceasefire/exchange is a great idea or a terrible idea (personally I have no idea), nobody is celebrating.
In Gaza, and among their supporters abroad, while some are bemoaning the terrible catastrophe that Hamas brought upon them, a lot of people are celebrating. Some are celebrating a release from destruction, but many are celebrating a victory.
Why are the reactions the opposite of what one might expect?”
You're overthinking it. Gaza, as the warzone and on the defensive since Day 2 of the war, naturally feels the ceasefire as a much greater psychological relief.
In contrast, for Israel, where - broadly speaking - life has largely continued as usual over the past year, the impact feels less pronounced.
I’m speaking as someone who lives in Israel. And yes, I have close family and friends serving in the reserves who have been in combat during the war; I’m not minimizing that reality