Analysis: The fate of Hamas’ captives could tear Israeli society apart

The captives held in the Gaza Strip are now the most sensitive issue in Israel.

It has been more than a month since around 240 people were taken captive by Palestinian fighters during the Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip.

Yet no one really knows what is going on in the negotiations to free them. There have been various media reports, including by Middle East Eye, suggesting that swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel have been close.

Hamas has been relatively open about the issue. It has suggested freeing a handful of civilian captives in exchange for a cessation of hostilities, followed by around 100 more in exchange for Palestinian women and minors being held in Israeli prisons.

Israel nonetheless ploughs on with its offensive in Gaza, which has now killed more than 11,500 Palestinians, including over 4,600 civilians.

This week, the bodies of two Israeli captives were recovered by soldiers. One suffered from cancer and another was a soldier that Hamas said was killed in an Israeli raid, but it is not known for sure how they died.

The question for Israeli society today is: what kind of commitment does the state have to bring these hostages back alive?

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