Are the captives a priority in Israel’s war on Gaza? | The Take

There are two objectives in phase two of Israel’s war on Gaza, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, as well as the release of the captives, some of which were seen in a Hamas video on Monday. But how will the hostages affect Israel's calculus, and how much of a priority are they?
In this episode:
Haggai Matar, +972 Executive Director
Oren Ziv, +972 News Journalist and Photographer
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Miranda Lin and our host Natasha del Toro, in for Malika Bilal. Miranda Lin fact-checked this episode.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.
Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

[@jamesconnormacleod34]

OUR WORD TO HUMANITY I'm a Christian, your children are our children. Our children are your children. All children are God's children and due to that my Muslim' Brothers and Sisters. WE STAND TOGETHER ALWAYS TO PROTECT GOD'S CHILDREN. AMEN and MASHA ALLAH

[@blazejzdena1753]

❤👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️

[@lechat8533]

AMEN & MASHALLAH The same God that made YOU has made ALL OF US, too!

[@talha01110]

We need this mindset which is not present unfortunately

[@descender7282]

Natanyahu is very highly egoistic. Unfortunately that has got smashed. So all he wants now is revenge for his personal gratification and political gain. Israeli population has to understand this basic truth.

[@sandorbronn1661]

It's actually a cultural chauvinism of the Zionist Jews. He is far from the only one strutting around saying only Jews are human.

[@EM.K024]

Kibbutz Survivor Yāsmin Pørat account: “The terrø rists shot them?” Golan asks. “No, they were killéd by the crøssfire,” Porat responds. “Understand there was very, very heavy crøssfire.” Gølan presses: “So our forces may have shøt them?” “Undoubtedly,” the former captive responds, and adds, “They eliminated everyone, including the høstages because there was very, very heavy crossfire.” “After insane crøssfire, two tånk shells were shot into the house. It’s a small kibbütz house, nothing big,” Porat explains. (Only ID F has tanks) “I’m angry at the state, I’m angry at the army,” Pørat told Maariv. “For 10 hours the kibbütz was abandoned.”

[@EM.K024]

According to former IDF intelligence officer Efrat Fenigson, “The border crossings were wide open.” Israel had reduced the number of battalions guarding the Gaza border from three to one before the incursion. The site of the Supernova music festival was chosen two days before the incursion to be at Re’im, about 3 miles from the Gaza border. Videos of attackers should have included voices; why were they muted? Canadian/Israeli Shir Georgy died after messaging her father on Saturday morning that she was safe “in a room with a police officer”; how did she die? The attack on the music site lasted for 6 hours; why were IDF not driven or flown in? It took Israel 10 hours to get help to the music site; what was Israel waiting for?

[@sandorbronn1661]

@@zeenatdurrani8607 It's an assumed name.

[@leonidassophie2666]

@@EM.K024 Cairo has formal proof that the day before, so on October 5, 2023 it warned Netanyahu of an imminent attack with armored vehicles! Hamas does not have tanks, so it is an entity other than Hamas! A survivor of the attacked kibbutz claims that the soldiers who shot at them were Israeli and insulted Netanyahu live on an Israeli channel!

[@elevans5758]

Is there no end to Israel's cruelty? The world is watching and is in disgust. Netanyahu does his people no service. May God bless all innocent Palestinians and Jews.

[@sandorbronn1661]

If there are no innocent Palestinians, can there be any innocent Jews? I see no Jews stopping this madness, quite to the contrary.

[@tanweerqureshi220]

If you are able to feel pain, you're alive. If you can feel other people's pain, then your are human

[@tundaiclark8154]

They dont care about hostages...if they did they wouldn't be bombing the Locations the hostages may be held

[@tomservo5007]

and if they showed restraint , then Hamas would take even more hostages

[@tundaiclark8154]

@tomservo5007 I'm sure Israeli joows are nowhere near Palestinians at this moment..how would they be able to get anymore hostages?

[@W1ZY]

Also, hostages may have witnessed events on Oct 7th contrary to the IDF narrative, such as IDF use of the "Hannibal" protocol in firefights.

[@yosefahkmon440]

Of course, there may be situations where innocent people are hurt, but don't forget the big picture that those innocent people who were killed will in the future become part of the terrorist organization Hamas which will probably kill Jewish children And Israel is all about removing the threat from them.

[@lechat8533]

Is there really no way to look into the eyes of others and see that we are ONE? If only this world was ruled and guided by wise and loving parents and wise and humble rulers...

[@sandorbronn1661]

The Zionist is superior to you. Just ask him.

[@icraftcrafts8685]

it is getting there. i believe anger is the strongest addiction that we have to and can overcome the negative thereof

[@lechat8533]

@@regulus7181 There certainly is a certain percentage of people who tick this way. But not the majority.

[@sitiyem3247]

Israel's bomb attack on Gaza does not look like an attack to free hostages, but an attack aimed at total destruction. Israel also did not respond to requests for hostage exchanges with citizens held in Israeli prisons and camps. I think the families of the hostages should start to question the intentions of Israel's actions.

[@W1ZY]

They have been. over a week ago they were accosted by Israeli citizens for calling for a cease fire to get their family members out of Gaza. Netanyahu refused to meet with them until they threatened to demonstrate.

[@marinamarley956]

@@W1ZY Bibi the psycho

[@yosefahkmon440]

I think they care, they don't just shoot missiles, note that they are very aggressive in their targets because they have intelligence information about the abductees. Why would they agree to a prisoner exchange?! Do you expect Israel to give them back their captives who are terrorists who kill Jews just for fun for innocent civilians?! This is not a fair negotiation at all. They have a goal to wipe out the terrorist organization from Israel and rightfully so... they only make life difficult for them

[@miriamschiro8585]

You are correct

[@allcatall3931]

it's similar to how its bombing attacks in 14, or before, weren't about 'saving lives', nor does any of its/knesset rhetoric suggest otherwise..

[@stevemurray1340]

Great reporting guys I thoroughly enjoyed this episode

[@bernadetterousseau284]

This is my point, Netanyahu speaks the captives but is not really concerned about them. Its an excuse to continue killings.

[@SofildaTotoni]

Gilad Shalit was exchanged for 1,027 prisoners. And u Al Jazeera have the audacity to pose this question. Playing mind and political games is evil and toxic. No more negotiating with the terrorists. PERIOD!

[@upworkprofilevideonoorulam440]

Great work Al - Jazeera.. try to get the subtitles in english so that the whole world knows what the people in palestine are saying

[@nwankwosampson-xk3jc]

The world also saw Hamas terrorists massacre 🥲

[@liron05]

The people in Palestine can say everything. Is it true? Not necessarily. But if you film everything that is happening (and not from the moment that tanks go in), from the beginning! You'll see the truth, you'll see that Al Jazeera is a pro Hamas news releasing only fake news!

[@leonidassophie2666]

@@nwankwosampson-xk3jc Gaza looks like a mass grave. These crimes against humanity remind me of other crimes of Germany Na ZZ i in 1939/1945 when Stalin's Red Army discovered the extermination camps in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, etc. .

[@tomservo5007]

actions are louder than words

[@nwankwosampson-xk3jc]

@@leonidassophie2666 started by hamas. No one attacked hilter or massacre Germany to cause such. Don't celebrate massacre and cry later 🥲

[@marinamarley956]

Hannibal Directive = no bargaining

[@W1ZY]

Exactly. Especially if hostages possess narrative of Oct 7 showing IDF's use of "Hannibal Protocol" in the residential firefights.

[@a.jlondon9039]

Other than the families nobody seems to care about the hostages.

[@leonidassophie2666]

Gaza looks like a mass grave. These crimes against humanity remind me of other crimes of Germany Na ZZ i in 1939/1945 when Stalin's Red Army discovered the extermination camps in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, etc. .

[@W1ZY]

The hostages may provide an account of events on Oct 7 that runs contrary to the official IDF narrative. If so, then Netanyahu's regime _will not seek their release in accordance with the _*_"Hannibal" protocol._*

[@leonidassophie2666]

@@W1ZY Cairo has formal proof that the day before, so on October 6, 2023 it warned Netanyahu of an imminent attack with armored vehicles! Hamas does not have tanks, so it is an entity other than Hamas! A survivor of the attacked kibbutz claims that the soldiers who shot at them were Israeli and insulted Netanyahu live on an Israeli channel!

[@transformersearthwarsshort7964]

Don't need to care about them ..😅 Hamas your end is so closer 🎉

[@Dhel-Tsu]

Maybe NO …..

[@aritelramos4191]

Don't stop sharing!!!

[@abdullarahat5278]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@MEBON-ol3zk]

Support to Palestinians but NOT to Hamas!

[@terrystraker2459]

All praise to Almighty God; victory, through truths, by the force of Almighty God. Patience’s under the attacks of evil “ Evil “ . Knowledge that evil must be conquered. The truths will manifest itself against all doubts, and the world will see. All praise to Almighty God amen.

[@ameg2707]

😢 unfortunately no 😢 🤲🏻❤️🇵🇸🤲🏻

[@ronnie5329]

Well, neither does hamas, or they wouldnt use them this way.😅 they are not the good guys either

[@Steve-bj3op]

​@@ronnie5329Ignoramus

[@allcatall3931]

@@ronnie5329 they've no equal power, not time to be 'nice'..

[@ronnie5329]

@@allcatall3931 well if hamas had upper hand they would wipe them out.... so in that sense Israel is 10x more nice

[@allcatall3931]

@@ronnie5329 israel's already wiped out, majority of palestinian land (look at maps, since 48), and killed many more palestinians, than vice versa so, no..

[@AJ-aabbcc]

Proof the captives aren't a priority is with the intense airstrikes. How can they guarantee not hitting the captives?

[@clandeszipp4564]

Captives are safe-ish in tunnels.

[@AJ-aabbcc]

@@clandeszipp4564 How can you be certain they're in the tunnels?

[@AJ-aabbcc]

@@clandeszipp4564 Israel has said they are targeting the tunnels with intense airstrikes.

[@ayeshaahmar6351]

​@@clandeszipp4564hamas spokes person has said that 22 hostages r already killed due to airstrikes.

[@efsmediachannel7823]

​@@AJ-aabbccso help me here. If Israel cares about the kidnapped victims, they should keep accepting 1000 daily rockets from Hamas without responding? 🤷🏼‍♂️. Sounds like a clever idea.

[@MichelleRoman-h2v]

No. Captives mean nothing to Neth

[@njosborne6152]

Why would the be? Bring an 3000 year old myth is what is important! Premiere of USSR, Stalin’s purge have nothing on this monster, Netanyahu‼️

[@kadirpathan2102]

Sar you are show very nice I'm Indian bat not inglish language only Hindi language

[@Islamic1-r7b]

❤Palestine🇵🇸

[@MEBON-ol3zk]

Yes, but not Hamas!

[@MaryWHYNOW5937et]

You can’t negotiate with terrorists.

[@leonidassophie2666]

Gaza looks like a mass grave. These crimes against humanity remind me of other crimes of Germany Na ZZ i in 1939/1945 when Stalin's Red Army discovered the extermination camps in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, etc. .

[@ayeshaahmar6351]

Then don't bother about hostages and don't pretend u care for ur citizens.

[@W1ZY]

The British did when the Zionists were terrorists.

[@allcatall3931]

but u can, with resistance fighters..

[@sandorbronn1661]

Satan Yahoo doesn't care about the captives.

[@Trish-fv7ck]

Being a Chicago-born and raised Catholic Christian, I have no skin in the ME war, however, I have followed it since before Desert Storm because my son was deployed to Iraq on 2 occasions and my nephew/Godchild is the Colonel who was in charge of the Division that monitored for chemical and radioactive materials after a strike. I not only follow the US media coverage of what is happening I also follow the Eastern European media and Al Jazeera. it's my educated guess this current situation was started by the Israelis. Netanyahu is just as evil as 45 and they are in it together to finish the job that was started in 1947

[@jeremykoszorek7435]

Just so you know Al Jazeera is Qatari state media. It’s kinda like listening to Russian news on the war in Ukraine

[@mr.anderson3369]

No, or Israel wouldn't be bombing so indiscriminately

[@leonidassophie2666]

Gaza looks like a mass grave. These crimes against humanity remind me of other crimes of Germany Na ZZ i in 1939/1945 when Stalin's Red Army discovered the extermination camps in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, etc. .

[@MohamedMansoorMansoor-v5t]

❤ good work Al Jazeera English news no .1❤ very nice God bless you

[@abuansarmd.2710]

Al Jazeera Bangla service pl.

[@arifsaud9110]

😢

[@happykitten5695]

Peace and LOVE ✌💛

[@julumiah]

100% , but unfortunately israheal doesn’t bother their life’s.

[@mosesngare9431]

With the strikes i don't think so, i believe Hamas had thought Israel could follow Hamas to rescue captives and lay traps on them, as the way looks so far, it's complicated

[@sandorbronn1661]

Hamas counted on the Zionists' humanity towards their own Jewish people. They should have known better.

[@bowee257]

are they a priority? No. definitely not to Al Jazeera.

[@nwankwosampson-xk3jc]

Since when do Al Jazeera care about Israelis or you think you can thwart hamas destruction? If Hamas terrorists took them thinking that hostages will give reasons to place Israel on condition then they have failed.

[@aisha665]

YOU BATTER TO LEAVE PALESTINE LAND OR YOU NEVER EVER LIVE WITH PEACFUL

[@nwankwosampson-xk3jc]

@@aisha665 hmmm we will know who will cry the most, who will call for UN and world. A child who says his mother can't sleep, can't sleep either.

[@Islamic1-r7b]

​@@aisha665❤👍

[@_Helicam_]

Is that a threat? You are a funny bunch, shouting for war and crying for peace at the same time. But what you are asking is even more absurd, because to live with someone peacefully you must live with them in the first place. @@aisha665

[@allcatall3931]

@@_Helicam_ u ilk arrived on palestinian territory, not vice versa, nor at the 'same time', then 'contested'..

[@Islamic1-r7b]

❤ 🇵🇸

[@MEBON-ol3zk]

Yes, but not Hamas!

[@miriamschiro8585]

I don’t think Hamas is guilty. I say Israel do not really care about the hostages. If they want their ppl back they need to 1) cease fire 2) stop the occupation for good in Palestine

[@notagain9196]

The rest of the civilised World calls them Hostages❗️❗️

[@alisonparker4752]

Free the hostages, then you can have your aid, even though we all know you got plenty in those tunnels, don’t we?

[@ayeshaahmar6351]

Yes they will.. They have said so many times if Israel stops bombardment and frees 10000 Palestinians in their jails...Israel never agreed hence no regard for their citizens.

[@Rio23370]

We don't know...no proof so far. All we see is a humanitarian crisis.

[@AssassinFemme]

Hamas surely does. Prepared for this for years. They knew that the world is woke and stupid for suggestion

[@sandorbronn1661]

No.

[@alisonparker4752]

@@sandorbronn1661 evil personified

[@keppros57]

Hannibal Directive...

[@shaphyshaphy]

Nope

[@kadirpathan2102]

Al jajira Hindi language please sar

[@Prushn]

I'm thinking all this would end if the innocents of Gaza would turn on hamas. After all, hamas has caused all this to happen.

[@The.Curious]

Their life was terrible before this happened, nobody cared. Now the whole world pays attention.

[@hanimazen5717]

Thank you

[@carolinerondon8934]

Hostages, not captives. And that is rich coming from Qatar/Alljazeera, who funds Hamas and OKs all they do.

[@Martyr_Hind_Rajab]

Brother, What's the ddifference between these two words Hostages and captives ? Dictionary shows the same meaning !!!

[@Steve-bj3op]

Captive is a synonym of hostage 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@leonidassophie2666]

Gaza looks like a mass grave. These crimes against humanity remind me of other crimes of Germany Na ZZ i in 1939/1945 when Stalin's Red Army discovered the extermination camps in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, etc. .

[@ronnie5329]

@@Martyr_Hind_Rajab A hostage is always a captive, but a captive is not always a hostage. Hostages are held a leverage in order to demand something else.

[@carolinerondon8934]

@@Martyr_Hind_RajabA hostage is used as leverage, that is the difference

[@izildinhavitoreli1996]

Gostaria tanto se houvesse uma forma de traduzir também para o português... Ou mesmo para o espanhol, que eu entendo também.... Fire Palestina!

[@luvLena12]

@izildinhavitoreli1996 Benjamin Netanyahu não quer parar esta guerra (a propósito, eu só queria dizer que estou contra ele), ele quer destruir Hammas e resgatar o refém a qualquer custo. na segunda-feira, o Hamas divulgou um vídeo de alguns dos reféns que estavam muito chateados criticando Netanyahu por não parar esta guerra para que pudessem ser libertados. e chateados porque sabem que o seu governo não consegue protegê-los, preocupações crescentes. 239 ainda em cativeiro e 50 morrendo durante as bombas que Israel. no sábado, quando Israel cortou toda a eletricidade para prejudicar a Palestina, os cidadãos de Israel durante a marcha pediram ao ministro que parasse e aceitasse a proposta do Hamas que é libertar todos os prisioneiros palestinos em troca, eles libertarão todos os 239 reféns se Israel concordar, ótimo, se não, eles estão pronto para o ataque de Israel também. há um jornalista neutro relatando que está relatando que as famílias israelenses reféns querem que Netanyahu aceite a oferta do Hamas e enquanto o jornalista concorda que cortar a eletricidade, água, comida e matar palestinos é uma punição coletiva

[@luvLena12]

@ozildinhavitoreli1996 o jornalista disse que as redes sociais concentraram toda a atenção nos reféns e nos hammas atacados, mas não deram qualquer atenção ao genocídio contra os palestinos que foram mortos pelas bombas de Israel. ou seja, enquanto Israel e o Hamas se culpavam, o Hammas, com sua gentileza, fez o primeiro relato de que eram os americanos que não tinham nada a ver com Israel desde que vieram nos visitar. a negociação foi feita pelos EUA e pelo Hammas. portanto, Israel não fez parte desta negociação. A segunda libertação foram as 2 senhoras idosas israelenses devido às suas condições de saúde. uma das senhoras de 85 anos descreve que quando foi sequestrada ficou com medo, a experiência foi horrível, ela passou pelos túneis, andando muito até o destino final. hammas os tratou muito bem. certificando-se de que eles tenham comida, água, medicamentos para necessidades essenciais. banho . eles eram muito respeitosos e gentis. depois que ela compartilhou nas redes sociais como eles foram bem tratados, seu governo não gostou disso e ela sentiu os comentários críticos contra ela. parte de Israel apoia a guerra a outra parte não

[@MichelleRoman-h2v]

No.

[@siddiquiaaliya4075]

No

[@sultanskingdom]

Good evening

[@roughroad1975]

Neth need pawns to stay alive the king.

[@al-bayyinnah-quranmedia9129]

Not at all

[@big.brother___]

Give Dawah To Captives And Convert Them into Muslim.

[@Damien6.6.6]

They've already flattened your bushes n kicked in your door. What will it take to convince you?

[@sandorbronn1661]

You cannot kill an idea. Keep trying, though.

[@Damien6.6.6]

@@sandorbronn1661 tell that to the cherokees

[@allcatall3931]

@@Damien6.6.6 gtho, with that..

[@余泰闳]

😢……

[@kalamuddinmondal1241]

😭😭😭😭🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲☝️☝️☝️☝️

[@Islamic1-r7b]

Free Palestine🇵🇸 from Israel jew

[@mdismailhossin949]

🤔🤔🤔

[@kadirpathan2102]

Hindi show please sar

[@lightbeings6243]

Click captions of your choice of language..iA it ll appear

[@kadirpathan2102]

@@lightbeings6243 ok Hindi

[@MdNozir-w7m]

😭

[@antoniomanuelcaetano6770]

Não me admiraria nada que Israel deixasse estes civis morrerem para criarem mais raiva entre os civis israelitas. Na mente desse Netanyahu seria por uma boa causa.

[@davidmhale521]

Palestinians never should have kidnapped them.

[@koetjingoranje4241]

Naz¡on!st never should have steal the lands, properties and put thousands of Palestinian children and civilian in prison

[@davidmhale521]

@@koetjingoranje4241 ok so you sound like you want this war, that’s ok then don’t cry about your innocent woman and children dying. Because of the reasons you gave.

[@allcatall3931]

israel's eyes have always been on palestinian land and ppl..

[@davidfromamerica1871]

Don’t worry, Allah will protect you..

[@mdjamilhossain9037]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸💪💪💪💪💪🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@akhtarnirban3333]

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸😭😭😭😭😭💔💔😭😭🤲🤲🤲🤲

[@MaryWHYNOW5937et]

Hamas had no business taking elderly, women, and children as “war hostages”. When is Hamas accountable for the current events in Gaza?

[@lilyBeans-cz4rm]

You shot your own…now sit down…yes…the 🩸 stain you’ve left will NEVER EVER BE ERASED…Do You Understand?!

[@motosashi6971]

Says a Bot account created 5 days ago. Get outta here.

[@tomservo5007]

@@motosashi6971 then I'll say it too: "Hamas had no business taking elderly, women, and children as “war hostages”. When is Hamas accountable for the current events in Gaza?"

[@sandorbronn1661]

You don't know who they took, do you? The Jews living in Palestine are fully accountable, placing themselves somewhere they were never wanted, and all doing military service.

[@asa1973100]

Absolutely, yes they are because if they weren’t Israel, would it be annihilated Gaza within the first week

[@haziqmuhamad9876]

Funny

[@lithium8847]

In just 2 week how many children in gaza die? compare it to Ukraine or other war if this not genocide Palestinian i don't know what is it

[@freeman37]

If they would, Iran would send the nukes their way.

[@Kevin-ol7gj]

​@@lithium8847so u seen the bodies? Have u counted them?

[@haziqmuhamad9876]

@@Kevin-ol7gj your mom one of em 4 sure.

[@tomservo5007]

IL 🦾

[@ManzoorAli-p4t]

T

[@omanisharif1156]

allah protect all muslim🤲

[@jamaicadecena7771]

At least nobody is celebrating in gaza now

[@trader2137]

yes they are

[@DMC1982]

Check out the Hannibal Doctrine!

[@demy8443]

SHALOM YISRAIL ✡️✝️🇮🇱 SHALOM YERUSHALAIM. ELOHE YISRAIL. UR GOD THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB, YAHSHUA HAMASHIACH (JESUS THE MESSIAH) L'HAVAYAH THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE IS UPHOLDING U. 🇮🇱✡️✝️

[@user-zj5kj4tc8e]

Huh. Confused

[@Islamic1-r7b]

Go back Israel

[@Islamic1-r7b]

❤Palestine🇵🇸

[@MdNozir-w7m]

😭