Israel isn’t sure what to do about the hostages in Gaza
Every option is fraught with danger
The deaths on December 15th of three Israeli hostages in Gaza, who were misidentified as members of Hamas and shot by Israeli soldiers, highlights how Israel’s dilemmas in reconciling its objectives in its war with Hamas are growing ever more acute. To the desperate families of the remaining hostages it seems clear that their loved ones may pay the ultimate price.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “A dangerous muddle”
Middle East & Africa December 23rd 2023
- Attacks on shipping threaten to upend peace talks in Yemen
- Israel isn’t sure what to do about the hostages in Gaza
- The plight of Christians in Bethlehem and Jerusalem predates the latest Gaza war
- A supposed haven in Sudan falls to a genocidal militia
- For Congo’s next president, winning may be the easy part
From the December 23rd 2023 edition
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Israel and Hizbullah strike a fragile deal to end their war
Joe Biden’s last roll of the dice on peace in the Middle East
The arrest warrant is a diplomatic disaster for Netanyahu
But may also undermine the International Criminal Court
Israel’s hardliners reckon Gaza’s chaos shows they must control it
Only 11 out of a recent convoy of 109 aid trucks managed to get in
Why GM crops aren’t feeding Africa
Despite decades of research, few countries grow them there
A genocidal militia’s quest for legitimacy
A warring party in Sudan claims it wants to talk peace
Get ready for “Maximum Pressure 2.0” on Iran
The Trump White House may bomb and penalise the regime into a deal