The return of the hostages is not

the end of the story. It is not a solution. 

I was watching the crowds last night and, for all the excitement, I sensed anxiety as well. 

They are right to be anxious. Israel is releasing prisoners who will be more determined than ever to get their way. Hamas is still armed. Hamas is still in control of the Gaza strip. 

Yesterday Hamas was still killing other Gazans who were not cooperating with them. Hamas was beating young men to death, young men who do not want to fight or be part of the plan to destroy Israel. Hamas has not given up on that - and they won't.  Despite the so-called "recognition" there is no Palestinian state for now. Hamas is not going to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority. To do so would mean giving up power and agreeing to a two state solution. That is never going to happen. 

The Gaza strip has to be rebuilt. Without a proper and stable government it is a situation ripe for yet more corruption. It is likely billions of dollars will be wasted and a few will become very rich while the majority continue to live in poverty. That alone is a situation which will allow Hamas to continue to stir up discontent and hatred towards Israel.

And then there are the hostages. Right now there is euphoria that some of them have survived even while the deaths of others are acknowledged. Many people will see it as "heart-warming" when pictures of the hostages being reunited with their families are shown. It is all too easy to forget that these hostages have survived yes, but they have survived appalling physical and psychological conditions. It is not going to be a simple matter of "they are back with their families and normal life can resume". Life for them will never be normal again. It will not be normal for their families. They may never be able to work or function normally in society.

I am not cheering the release of the hostages. I am grateful some of them have survived but I hope it will not be impossible for them to live again. I am worried by what Hamas will now attempt to do. It may not come immediately but I do not believe they are really ready to negotiate a lasting peace.  I would very much like to be proven wrong though.