Israel’s Euphoria Over Hostage Rescue May Be Fleeting

“For months, Israelis had heard only about hostages being killed or declared dead in Gaza. The ‘lucky’ families were those whose loved ones’ remains were retrieved by soldiers, at great risk, and brought home to Israel for burial,” the New York Times reports.

“So the audacious rescue on Saturday of four living hostages instantly raised morale in Israel and offered a momentary victory, at least, for the country’s embattled prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.”

“But by Sunday, euphoria was already giving way to a harsh reality. The heavy air and ground assault that accompanied the rescue killed scores of Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. And the operation failed to resolve any of the deep dilemmas and challenges vexing the Israeli government.”