We've learned that Hamas will hold onto these hostages. Some will be killed. Many will be tortured. But generally, Hamas wants to hold on to these hostages and use them as bargaining chips.
Michael Oren discusses what Israel has learned about Hamas's tactics regarding hostages.
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I think that any effort to release hostages is good. But at the end of the day, Israel was going to have to take the measures to defend itself.
You have Mahmoud Abbas. He is the president for the Palestinian authority. He's in the 18th year of his four-year term, all right? He will not stand for re-election because he knows if he does, he's going to lose to Hamas.
If you put pressure on Hamas -- notice the Hamas wasn't willing to negotiate at all before Israel went out on the ground.
Terrorist organizations do not negotiate in good faith. They move the football. They will play with the emotions of Israelis. They'll torture Israelis. It's part of their terror. It's actually part of their strategy.